Financial General Prosecutor Requests Hearing with Aridi to Address Corruption Claims

Financial General Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim requested on Thursday a hearing with caretaker Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi in order to address corruption allegations, reported the National News Agency.

It said that the minister has a week to comply with the request.

Aridi and caretaker Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi were embroiled in a dispute when the former accused the latter of withholding funds from his ministry for road maintenance.

He said during a press conference last week that Safadi withheld the funds in an effort to pressure him to approve a construction violation.

Safadi swiftly denied the allegations in remarks to several local television stations, accusing Aridi of launching a political campaign against him.

Aridi had held his press conference after following severe criticism after roads flooded from rainwater.

Ibrahim is also expected to summon Safadi after asking authorities to provide him with the transcripts of Aridi's conference and the Finance Minister's television interviews.