Nazaha uncovers SR2m graft in road project

RIYADH: The National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha) has revealed administrative and financial irregularities of over SR2 million in a road construction project in Abha (Asir province).
Nazaha swung into action after receiving a tip-off from a citizen about the irregularities, Abdulrahman Al-Ajlan, the spokesman of the commission said.
An inquiry by Nazaha uncovered irregularities ranging from overestimation of the project cost to the amount of compensation paid to the property owners. The commission submitted its findings to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution and recommended action.
Al-Ajlan said the commission noticed various irregularities, such as tampering with the data. (Altering the dimensions of the land area in the sale deed of a citizen on July 27, 2010 contrary to the facts mentioned in the title issued in 1976.)
“The committee estimated the value of the expropriated property and found that it had been hiked to SR3,000 per square meter, compared to the purchase price from the citizen at SR65 per sq. meter” he said, adding that the figure had been inflated in the committee’s assessment.
The spokesman said the principle of transparency, protection of integrity in public dealings and combating corruption in all its forms as stipulated by the National Strategy for the Protection of Integrity and Anti-corruption had been flouted in the land transaction.