Kuwaiti lawmakers Monday called on the government to resign for failing to take adequate steps to tackle graft cases which run into hundreds of millions of dollars and involve a former minister.
"The government is protecting thieves of public funds. Either we (MPs) admit we can not safeguard public money, or this government must be made to resign," opposition MP Mussallam al-Barrak told parliament.
The outspoken parliament of the oil-rich emirate was discussing a government report on the progress made on investigations into several graft cases which have been before the judiciary over the past seven years.
The cases, valued at several hundred million dollars, concern embezzlements in Kuwait's foreign investments, huge military procurements and other public establishments, especially the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) graft case.
"I have no doubt that the cabinet is obstructing the judiciary work. ... A number of ministers may be sponsoring some of the thieves," MP Walid al-Jari charged.
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Deifallah Sharar denied any wrongdoing. He said the government has taken "good steps inside and outside Kuwait" against the defendants.
But MPs unanimously rejected the report, asked the government to provide a new report before the end of this month and demanded it must include all other graft cases.
The legislators were also upset at the slow pace of investigations in Kuwait, whereas courts in Britain and Spain have already issued verdicts against former Kuwaiti officials.
The KOTC graft case, worth some 200 million dollars, involves former oil minister Sheikh Ali Khalifa al-Sabah and four top former executives.—AFP.
©--Agence France Presse.
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
