Reuters Africa
Bahrain royal denies taking bribes in Alba case
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
1 min read
A member of the Bahraini royal family has denied accusations of corruption made against him in a UK court case involving a London-based businessman and contracts involving Bahraini aluminium producer Alba and U.S. giant Alcoa.
Corruption has been a key issue that the opposition in the Gulf Arab state, who led a protest movement for more democracy earlier this year, has focused on.
The government, dominated by the ruling Al Khalifa family, has said it will take new measures to combat it. It shut down the uprising in February and March, saying it was driven by the sectarian concerns of majority Shi'ites and backed by Iran.
"Isa Bin Ali Al-Khalifa wishes to categorically deny the allegations of corruption reported against him in the press following the charges brought against certain parties," said the statement, provided by his Paris-based lawyer Ardavan Amir-Aslani.
It said Sheikh Isa, a former Bahraini oil minister and Alba board chairman, "is not directly targeted by the on-going legal procedures in relation to the Alba (Aluminium Bahrain) matter".
British and Canadian national Victor Dahdaleh was arrested and charged last week with paying bribes to officials of state-controlled Alba, linked to contracts with US-based Alcoa.
Corruption has been a key issue that the opposition in the Gulf Arab state, who led a protest movement for more democracy earlier this year, has focused on.
The government, dominated by the ruling Al Khalifa family, has said it will take new measures to combat it. It shut down the uprising in February and March, saying it was driven by the sectarian concerns of majority Shi'ites and backed by Iran.
"Isa Bin Ali Al-Khalifa wishes to categorically deny the allegations of corruption reported against him in the press following the charges brought against certain parties," said the statement, provided by his Paris-based lawyer Ardavan Amir-Aslani.
It said Sheikh Isa, a former Bahraini oil minister and Alba board chairman, "is not directly targeted by the on-going legal procedures in relation to the Alba (Aluminium Bahrain) matter".
British and Canadian national Victor Dahdaleh was arrested and charged last week with paying bribes to officials of state-controlled Alba, linked to contracts with US-based Alcoa.
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