The Public Prosecution in Libya has ordered the arrest of the Director of the Engineering Department and the Deputy Director of the Al-Dahra Oil Field Rehabilitation Project at Al-Waha Oil Company, alleging that they abused their powers and wasted public funds.
The decision came after a lengthy investigation into the awarding and implementation of the oil field rehabilitation project, the Attorney General’s office said in a statement on Friday.
Investigators discovered that the project was awarded to a new entity created in 2022 that did not have the technical expertise to perform work of this magnitude. The entity was paid $140 million in 2023 and 2024, despite its limited capabilities, the statement said.
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The investigation also revealed that the implementing company had not finished all the work as per the terms of its contract.
The accused official also allegedly approved prices submitted directly by the contractor without carrying out the required reviews and checks to see if the prices were in line with the prices specified in the contract.
The investigation authority, based on the findings, ordered the detention of the accused in preparation for referring the case to the judiciary.
The Attorney General’s office said the latest move is part of a wider probe into alleged financial and administrative irregularities at Al-Waha Oil Company. The case is the continuation of criminal proceedings against a former chairman of the company’s board of directors last year in relation to the same project.
