report on programme manipulation - Independent Inquiry Committee

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INDEPENDENT INQUIRY COMMITTEE INTO THE UNITED NATIONS OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAMME REPORT ON PROGRAMME MANIPULATION CHAPTER TWO OIL TRANSACTIONS AND ILLICIT PAYMENTS To the State Oil Marketing Company Dear Mr. Saddam Al-Zibn I give permission to the Aredio Company to contract for the quantity specified for me (Mariam Campaign) that is three million barrels until the end of February 2001. I also give permission to Mr. Martin Shenker to sign the contract. Please accept my respects. [Signature] Fawaz Abdullah 13/1/2001 Figure: Fawaz Abdullah Zureikat letter to Saddam Z. Hassan (Jan. 13, 2001) (translated from Arabic). Of the money deposited in the Arab Bank account, approximately $55,000 was transferred in two deposits into the Mariam Appeal bank account at Lloyds Trustee Savings Bank (“Lloyds TSB”) in London. A review of Mr. Zureikat’s Arab Bank records shows that there were a total of $973,300 in eight cash withdrawals from the Arab Bank account between October 2001 and January 2002; and a further $101,000 was withdrawn in cash between June and July 2003. In addition, bank records show that from August 2000 through December 2002, Mr. Zureikat wire transferred funds from other accounts totaling approximately £400,000 into the Mariam Appeal bank account at Lloyds TSB in London. 156 155 Fawaz Zureikat letter to Saddam Z. Hassan (Jan. 13, 2001) (translated from Arabic). Deposits to the Mariam Appeal’s account were made variously in the name of “Fawaz Zureikat” or “Fawaz Abdallah” [sic]. Lloyds TSB record, bank statements (undated) (transaction dates Aug. 4, 2000; Mar. 13 and July 11, 2001) and bank statements (June 13, July 25, Aug. 8, Sept. 5, and Dec. 12, 2002). 156 Arab Bank record, Fawaz Zureikat account, credit advices (Oct. 18 and Nov. 20, 2001) and debit advices (Oct. 28-29, Nov. 11, 21, and 26, and Dec. 4 and 27, 2001; Jan. 7, 2002; June 30 and July 10, 2003) (translated from Arabic); Lloyds TSB record, Mariam Appeal account, bank statements (undated) (transaction dates Aug. 4, 2000; Mar. 13 and July 11, 2001), bank statements (Nov. 1 and 29, 2001; June 13, July 25, Aug. 8, Sept. 5, and Dec. 12, 2002); Arab Bank record, Fawaz Zureikat account, SWIFT messages (Nov. 24 and 26, 2001) (translated from Arabic); Fawaz Zureikat interview (July 28, 2005). On November 24, 2001, Mr. Zureikat transferred $30,000 to the Mariam Appeal from the same Arab Bank REPORT ON PROGRAMME MANIPULATION–OCTOBER 27, 2005 PAGE 86 OF 623
INDEPENDENT INQUIRY COMMITTEE INTO THE UNITED NATIONS OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAMME REPORT ON PROGRAMME MANIPULATION CHAPTER TWO OIL TRANSACTIONS AND ILLICIT PAYMENTS Mr. Zureikat claimed he made donations to many other anti-sanctions campaigns—including a donation to one campaign of approximately £200,000. When asked to which other campaign he contributed funds, Mr. Zureikat replied: “That is none of your business.” 157 Mr. Galloway has acknowledged that Mr. Zureikat donated money to the Mariam Appeal, although he has offered varying estimates of the total amount of Mr. Zureikat’s donations. In April 2003, however, Mr. Galloway stated categorically that the Mariam Appeal had “received no money from Iraq.” More recently, when interviewed by Committee investigators, Mr. Galloway stated that he never asked Mr. Zureikat about the source of the money the latter donated to the Mariam Appeal. 158 5. Payments to Amineh Naji Daoud Abu Zayyad (Mr. Galloway’s Wife) Burhan Al-Chalabi, an Iraqi businessman based in the United Kingdom, received an oil allocation in Phase VII. This oil allocation was granted to Mr. Al-Chalabi and designated as a United Kingdom allocation. Mr. Al-Chalabi nominated Fortum to purchase his allocations. Mr. Al- Chalabi told an Iraqi official that his allocation was to support “Galloway’s campaign.” 159 In April 2000, a donation of £6,750 was made by Fortum (in the name of Neste) to the Mariam Appeal. This was in response to a direct request from the Mariam Appeal for funding for medical account into which the $698,640.14 from Taurus had been paid; on November 26, a further $25,000 was transferred. Arab Bank record, Fawaz Zureikat account, SWIFT messages (Nov. 24 and Nov. 26, 2001) (translated from Arabic). 157 Fawaz Zureikat interview (July 12, 2005). 158 George Galloway interview (May 16, 2005) (estimating that Mr. Zureikat provided £375,000 to the Mariam Appeal and saying he never asked Mr. Zureikat about the source of the funds); George Galloway letter to the United Kingdom Attorney-General (Apr. 24, 2003). In an interview for the British Broadcasting Corporation (hereinafter “BBC”), referring to Mr. Zureikat’s donations, Mr. Galloway stated: “I would have said it was of the order of about £200,000 over four years, a ballpark figure.” BBC Newsnight, George Galloway interview (Apr. 23, 2003); George Galloway e-mail to the Committee (Oct. 17, 2005). 159 Committee oil beneficiary table, contract no. M/07/83; Iraq official interviews; SOMO oil allocation tables for Phase VII (Dec. 17, 1999) (indicating an allocation of four million barrels to “Burhan al- Chalabi”). In 1999, Neste Oil merged into Fortum. Neste Oil previously had attempted unsuccessfully to obtain oil allocations. SOMO fax to Neste Oil (Dec. 21, 1996); SOMO record, fax to Neste (Aug. 23, 1997); Neste Oil record, Neste Oil letter to SOMO (Mar. 17, 1998); Neste Oil record, Neste Oil letter to Zuhair Ibrahim, Iraqi Interests Section, London (Sept. 18, 1998); Neste Oil record, Neste Oil letter to the Minister of Oil (Sept. 18, 1998); Neste Oil record, Neste Oil letter to Mudhafar A. Amin, Iraqi Interests Section, London (Aug. 12, 1999); Neste Oil record, Neste Oil letter to Minister of Oil (Aug. 12, 1999). An Iraqi official familiar with allocations granted by Mr. Aziz has stated he was unaware of allocations being requested or granted for the benefit of Mr. Galloway’s campaign prior to Phase VIII. Iraq official interview. REPORT ON PROGRAMME MANIPULATION–OCTOBER 27, 2005 PAGE 87 OF 623
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report on programme manipulation - Independent Inquiry Committee

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