NA panel demands investigation of CP diwan misspending allegations

The parliamentary public funds protection committee is expected to submit a request when the National Assembly resumes business to form an investigative panel to look into allegations in recent financial reports concerning expenditure by His Highness the Crown Prince's diwan. At present, the parliamentary committee lacks the authority to force certain figures to attend its meetings for questioning concerning points raised in State Audit Bureau reports. An officially sanctioned investigative committee would have the ability to do so and to formally summon any individual for questioning, as well as being able to impose penalties if the individual or body under investigation is found to be responsible for the actions under investigation. According to a source close to the parliamentary committee, the audit bureau's latest report stated that a number of financial and administrative violations had been perpetrated by staff at the Crown Prince's diwan, with the committee vowing to put forward workable proposals to bring these violations to an end. In another development a separate parliamentary investigation committee, which was looking into alleged violations committed by state bodies in awarding the tender for a major 2007 Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) project to increase productivity levels. According to one committee insider, committee member MP Khalid Al-Tahous is currently preparing a separate report which he hopes to finish shortly so that a vote can be taken on either his report or the committee's being submitted to parliament for debate on further action. The insider also indicated that the committee's report includes recommendations to prosecute the staff at the MEW and the Central Tenders Committee (CTC) who are held responsible for their involvement in awarding the tender, as well as taking legal action against the State Audit Bureau for its failure to address the violations. The committee did not recommend any action against other bodies involved, including the Fatwa and Legislation Authority, the Environment Public Authority and the Ministry of Finance, however. - Al-Qabas