JEDDAH, 28 March 2005 — Investigations into the public hospital scam in Jeddah which Arab News reported last week continue with the committee formed by the director of Health Affairs in the Makkah Region questioning those involved. Documents, personnel and procedures over the past few years at the hospital are being looked at.
Local newspapers have leaked information about the investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement by the hospital’s previous administration. According to Al-Madinah newspaper, millions of riyals were diverted into the pockets of officials who used a variety of nonexistent projects, employees and other machinations.
However, the former director of the hospital who is at the center of the controversy denied any wrongdoing. “Everything said in the papers is untrue and false,” he told Arab News yesterday. “Of course, you expect someone being accused to say that, but I have evidence of my innocence and I will present my defense through the appropriate channels of the law and Shariah rather than provoking confusion in the media as some people are trying to do by tarnishing the reputations of honest people.”
The former director called upon the minister of health to intervene and present the facts so that justice is done and the guilty are punished.
The present director of the hospital refused to comment on the investigation as did Dr. Abdul Lateef Alderees, the director of health affairs in Jeddah.
A source at the Health Affairs office said the investigations began two weeks ago and should be completed in another two weeks with a public announcement of the findings.
“The investigation involves former health officials during whose tenure the alleged financial mismanagement occurred. Official-approved documents exist for the transactions so it is not appropriate to comment on the truth or falsity of the accusations until the investigation is over,” the source said.
A decision by Dr. Yasser Al-Ghamdi, the director of Health Affairs in the Makkah Region, to form an investigating committee was made three months ago. The committee began its work two weeks later but was stopped two months into its investigations when the former hospital director objected to its members and so a new committee was formed.
Sources close to the hospital staff said it was possible to play around with finances because of various rehabilitation programs by outside specialists. They also pointed out that it is quite possible the former hospital director was not involved but other administrators were.
A source inside the hospital told Arab News that most of the staff were not aware of these illegal activities and are still not aware of the allegations or the ongoing investigations. “I think most of the allegations are rumors and exaggerations,” he added.
