The Kuwaiti National Integrity Society affirmed its satisfaction with all “reform measures and anti-corruption made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Hamad Al-Ali, especially with regard to the Eurofighter deal and the previous observations contained in the Audit Bureau report by referring the entire issue to the Public Prosecution and the Anti-Corruption Authority since the Defense Minister took office.”
In a statement, the society says the firm measures taken by the Ministry of Defense under the leadership of Al-Ali confirm the progression of the approach adopted by the late former Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah and completion of the efforts he dealt with and there are calls for everyone, especially the legislative authority, to support these reform measures and support anti-corruption efforts carried out by the Ministry of Defense, reports Al-Rai daily.
The sources said, “The Kuwaiti National Integrity Society followed up the interrogation submitted to the minister and reviewed all the responses to the points of interrogation related to integrity and anti-corruption, and the disclosure of the minister’s efforts in promoting integrity and accountability, all of which are a matter of satisfaction and appreciation from civil society, where the most important reform measures he took were summarized as follows:
1) The Minister addressed all previous observations of the Audit Bureau, while referring some observations for investigation.
2) The Minister’s follow-up to the results of the investigation committee regarding the Eurofighter deal, which was referred to the Public Prosecution on January 21, 2020.
3) The Minister appended a letter to the Public Prosecution on the results of the investigation committee regarding the Eurofighter deal on June 16, 2021.
4) The Minister referred the final report of the investigation committee regarding the Eurofighter deal, including all suspicions, to the Anti-Corruption Authority. He also issued another letter to the Anti-Corruption Authority for follow-up on September 2, 2021.
5) The Minister formed ministerial work teams to settle dues of the companies which have contracts with the Ministry which were finally were settled within a few months.
6) The Ministry of Defense during the era of the current minister is considered the most accomplished among all ministries in settling the balances of the payments, which is now considered the lowest in the history of the ministry.
7) The Ministry of Defense assigned lands to other ministries in public interest. The Ministry’s decision to approve the assignment of camp land in the Saad Al-Abdullah area to the Public Authority for Housing Welfare represents an initiative appreciated by the Ministry of Defense for the benefit of citizens with housing requests.
The Kuwaiti National Integrity Society concluded by saying it supports all the measures taken by Al-Ali, calling on the Anti-Corruption Commission to quickly complete its investigations into the files submitted by the Minister to the Commission, and to refer those found guilty to the Public Prosecution.