KOC Officials Referred to Prosecutions over Corruption Charges Worth $15M

KOC Officials Referred to Prosecutions over Corruption Charges Worth $15M
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KOC Officials Referred to Prosecutions over Corruption Charges Worth $15M

KOC Officials Referred to Prosecutions over Corruption Charges Worth $15M

Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) announced on Sunday referring a number of officials at Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), along with others facing corruption charges, to the public prosecution.

Nazaha's official spokesman Dr. Mohammad Bouzbar said in a statement that the notification included results by an investigation panel regarding contracts and projects of crude oil pipelines in northern regions.

They were submitted to the prosecution in line with a notification filed by KOC about suspicious "corruption crimes" that incurred losses, Nazaha said, adding that the suspects were charged with negligence and slackness in management of projects in North Kuwait.

He said that the report highlighted suspected corruption crimes, worth KD 4.683 million (USD 15.4 million).

According to the results, there were suspicious crimes of facilitating seizure of public funds, intentional and non-intentional misappropriation of public funds, illegal profit making and aiding others to make such earnings.

Bouzbar said after Nazaha confirmed existence of reasonable bases for the suspicious corruption crimes, it referred the case to the public prosecution.



Safe-Haven Gold Breaks $2,700/Oz Level as Uncertainty Looms

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
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Safe-Haven Gold Breaks $2,700/Oz Level as Uncertainty Looms

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

Gold breached the $2,700-per-ounce level on Friday for the first time ever, as US election jitters and simmering Middle East tensions boosted safe-haven demand, while a looser monetary policy environment also added fuel to the rally.
Spot gold firmed 0.6% to $2,709.28 per ounce by 0430 GMT and gained 2% this week. US gold futures rose 0.6% to $2,724.50.
Gold could gather further traction given the fluidity of election developments and geopolitical uncertainties, said OCBC FX strategist Christopher Wong.
Hezbollah said it will escalate war with Israel after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Elsewhere, with less than three weeks remaining to cast votes this US presidential election, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump are stretching for the support of every last voter.
"Gold has scoffed at a surging dollar and rallies at every chance it gets. It's just a bull market that shows no signs of exhaustion," said Tai Wong, a New York-based independent metals trader.
US economic data released overnight pointed to a strengthening economy, which boosted the US dollar. But traders still see a 90% chance of a Federal Reserve rate cut in November. The European Central Bank cut interest rates for the third time this year as the euro zone economy sags.
Lower rates increase the non-yielding bullion's appeal.
Bullion will continue to perform well over the long term, benefiting from the precarious fiscal situations of many Western nations, and the global desire for a store of value independent of other assets and institutions, said Ryan McIntyre, senior portfolio manager at Sprott Asset Management.
Delegates to the London Bullion Market Association's annual gathering
predicted
gold would rise to $2,941 over the next 12 months and silver to $45.
Spot silver rose 0.9% to $31.97 and headed for a weekly gain. Platinum added 0.6% to $997.80 and palladium increased 0.6% to $1,048.55.