Catering Contractor Banned After Fraud Uncovered

JEDDAH, 29 April 2006 — The Ministry of Health has blacklisted the catering company that was involved in the embezzlement of public money by presenting exaggerated bills for undelivered meals to hospitals in the Makkah region, an official source at the ministry said.

The catering contractor’s fraudulent practices were first brought to the ministry’s attention by Abeer Al-Masoodi, who worked as a dietician at the company.

Responding to the allegation that the whistleblower’s complaints were initially ignored by ministry officials, the source said involvement of any government official in the scam has not been proved. “The ministry will announce the findings about the role of the related officials in the issue without concealing anything,” the source said.