Charges Over Bribery And Abuse Of Office In Qatar

• Published date: 19 July 2023
• Subject Matter: Criminal Law, White Collar Crime, Anti-Corruption & Fraud
• Law Firm: Rahman Ravelli Solicitors
• Author: Dr. Angelika Hellweger

Angelika Hellweger of Rahman Ravelli considers Qatar's latest efforts to tackle corruption.

Qatar has announced that it has charged 16 people with corruption.

The charges relate to bribery and abuse of office, with four of those charged from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), which is Qatar's biggest healthcare provider. The HMC employees are also accused of laundering money and breaching the freedom and integrity of tenders related to the state.

HMC employs more than 25,000 and runs 12 hospitals in Qatar, as well as the National Ambulance Service, and provides home and residential care services.

In statement, Qatari prosecutors said: "The investigations resulted in the employees exploiting their position at HMC, favouring certain companies owned by the other defendants and facilitating their obtaining contracts to supply medical materials and supplies to HMC in return for sums of money.

"After the evidence was sufficient, the attorney general ordered the transfer of the accused to the competent criminal court."

Prosecutors did not, however, provide any details of the 12 other individuals that were charged.

Qatar has put an increased emphasis on tackling corruption since its Emir, Sheikh Tamim, passed the Public Prosecution Law in May, after repealing the previous version of the law that had been passed 21 years ago.

Four months ago, the Public Prosecutor's office said it would try former finance minister Ali Al Emadi, who was arrested in May 2021 and...