Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) stated Monday that there were grounds to suspect corruption in the proceedings of Ministry of Islamic Affairs in authorising companies to take pilgrims on Hajj this year.
The Islamic Ministry earlier announced its decision to authorise six companies to take pilgrims on Hajj to Saudi Arabia. However, Sisilfaru Hajj & Umrah Group raised issues with the ministry's process in picking the companies, and filed the case at the ACC.
Regarding the issue, the graft watchdog noted last week that although the ministry had rejected some proposals which lacked the necessary documents as per policy, the ministry had not done so in the case of two proposals which were forwarded to the evaluation stage.
ACC further highlighted that the evaluation committee had granted higher points to their preferred proposals, despite the publicised points system, thus indicating bias.
The commission declared that it would investigate the issue further, as the evaluation process had grounds for suspected corruption.
Sisilfaru Hajj & Umrah Group had also filed the case at the Civil Court. However, the lower court rejected the case over incomplete procedures.
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