JEDDAH: A number of companies have been identified for violating tenders and failing to carry out projects of the Jeddah Mayoralty and the National Water Company (NWC), in connection with the 2009 flood disaster. Informed sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the companies were listed by a committee comprising the Ministry of Finance, General Auditing Bureau (GAB), Control and Investigation Board (CIB), Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution (BIP) and Makkah emirate. The companies found guilty will be required to pay compensation and will have to be involved in revising the design of the projects. Consultancy firms that drew up the designs will be forced to bear the costs of rectifying the errors. The amounts retrieved will be deposited in an account to be used for fixing the damage caused by the floods, including on projects in eastern Jeddah. The sources added that the CIB and BIP have the right to drop charges against those found innocent. Those who have already been cleared of wrongdoing include a businessman, a well-known honorary sports member, and two top officials at the Jeddah Mayoralty – a professor at King Abdulaziz University and an engineer at the Ministry of Water. Two private sector employees have also been cleared during initial investigations. Preliminary investigations by the control committees and fact-finding committee have concluded that about 140 people are involved in corruption cases not directly related to the Jeddah flood disaster.
