SR22 million Jazan graft case booked

A case of official corruption involving SR22 million, allegedly committed by the chairman of a committee in Jazan, has been unearthed. The committee was tasked with finding reasons for the delay in salaries of workers whose company had contracts with the Directorate General of Health Affairs in the region as well as Jazan University. The accused had reportedly fabricated a mini crisis to carry out his scheme to delay the salaries of contracted workers in health facilities. Records show the local government wrote a letter to the Directorate of Health Affairs asking why there was a delay in releasing the pay as the workers were complaining. The directorate said it believed the workers had received their salaries until it received the letter. Following this, funds of the contracting company were frozen. The Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution in the region investigated the case and unearthed the embezzlement. The accused allegedly withdrew SR22 million in installments over a period of 10 months. It was found that 138 checks from the Health Ministry and five checks from Jazan University were used. Documents with forged signatures involving SR500,000 were also seized. The graft accused faces charges of violation of regulations, misusing influence and abuse of power. -arabnews