Qatar orders arrest of finance minister in corruption probe
A statement from Qatar's attorney general said Ali Shareef Al Emadi is suspected of misuse of public funds and abuse of power.
Qatar's attorney general ordered the arrest of Finance Minister Ali Shareef Al Emadi for alleged misuse of public funds and abuse of power, Qatar’s state media outlet reported on Thursday.
The country’s top prosecutor ordered Al Emadi’s arrest following an investigation into documents detailing “crimes related to practicing public office, which were damage to public funds, abuse of public office, and abusive of power,” read a statement carried by Qatar News Agency.
“The attorney general ordered extensive investigations regarding the crimes raised in the documents,” it stated, without clarifying whether Al Emadi had been charged with any crimes.
Prior to his position in government, Al Emadi ran the country’s largest lender, Qatar National Bank, from 2005 to 2013 and spearheaded the bank’s rapid expansion. Following the ascension of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani as Qatar's emir, he stepped down from his bank role and was appointed finance minister in a 2013 cabinet reshuffle.
