Atwasat

Africa Intelligence Report: Al-Sour probes NOC payments to Dubai-based oil trading firm BGN International




Alwasat - Cairo Thu 23 Feb 2023, 02:32 AM
alwasat radio

The French website “Africa Intelligence” reported that Libyan Prosecutor General Siddiq al-Sour is conducting an investigation regarding payments from the National Oil Corporation (NOC) to a Swiss account belonging to Dubai-based oil trading firm BGN International.

According to information published by the website on Tuesday, the transfer was issued several weeks ago, but it was blocked by the Compliance Department of the Libyan Foreign Bank, which manages NOC funds.

The website says al-Sour suspects that the payments are linked to a money laundering operation, according to a person familiar with the case.

Africa Intelligence quoted the source as believing that this mechanism might allow the revenues of the NOC to be paid to Saddam Haftar, son of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, as “part of an agreement reached in Abu Dhabi last July with Ibrahim Dabaiba.”

The site indicates the BGN “expanded its relations with eastern Libya,” recalling that on November 25, 2022, NOC Chairman Farhat Bengdara signed a memorandum of understanding with the company.

The details of the memorandum were not disclosed.

Former NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanallah accused the Government of National Unity of "attempting to manipulate the oil corporation by making deals in the Emirates."

At that time, Sanallah attacked Bengdara, accusing him of “conspiring” with the UAE, saying: “You want to waste 600 million dollars annually in order for the Emirates to be satisfied with you.”

Related Topics