Abu Dhabi // An Abu Dhabi businessman pleaded not guilty yesterday in a US court to charges he bribed Iraqi officials under the Oil for Food Program to win contracts worth more than US$10 million (Dh37m).
Ousama Naaman, a Lebanese-Canadian, was living in Abu Dhabi and since at least 1995 operated several businesses in the UAE. He also acted as the agent of an American chemical company, Inospec Inc.
According to the indictment, he offered Iraqi officials kickbacks in exchange for contracts. He is accused of keeping two per cent of the proceeds for himself.
Although Mr Naaman is not a US citizen, he "acted as the agent for Parent and subsidiary [Inospec and Swiss-owned Alcor] in Iraq and elsewhere beginning in at least 1995, and maintained his principal offices in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates," according to the indictment.
Mr Naaman has been sought by US authorities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act since August 2008, but the indictment against him was sealed because he was living in the UAE, which has no extradition treaty with the US.
Mr Naaman, according to several of his employees here, travelled to Frankfurt, Germany, on July 28. It is believed that he was lured to Germany, where he was arrested at the airport; the indictment against him was unsealed the following day.
In March, a German court ruled that he would be extradited to Washington, DC, to stand trial.
Mr Naaman pleaded not guilty yesterday, but according to court documents his legal team is working on a plea bargain. It is believed that Mr Naaman's plea will be revisited because Inospec pleaded guilty in March for using him to win contracts with the Iraqi Ministry of Oil.
According to United Nations reports on the programme, Iraqi officials and the Iraq Ministry of Oil operated several front companies here and used bank accounts here to receive these kickbacks.
After Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the UN Security Council imposed strict sanctions on Iraq. In 1996, the sanctions eased for humanitarian reasons. The Oil for Food Program was created to allow Iraq to export US$2bn barrels of its oil quarterly for buying humanitarian goods. The proceeds were to be transferred to a UN-controlled bank account.
But many illicit deals, kickback schemes and inflated prices resulted, according to investigations.
In this case, Iraq gave contracts to Inospec and Alcor to provide tetraethyl lead for its oil refineries. Mr Naaman was allegedly used to win three major contracts.
myoussef@thenational.ae
RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
Company%20profile
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The%20specs
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
Tell-tale signs of burnout
- loss of confidence and appetite
- irritability and emotional outbursts
- sadness
- persistent physical ailments such as headaches, frequent infections and fatigue
- substance abuse, such as smoking or drinking more
- impaired judgement
- excessive and continuous worrying
- irregular sleep patterns
Tips to help overcome burnout
Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’
Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do
Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones
Find your form of relaxation and make time for it each day e.g. soothing music, reading or mindful meditation
Sleep and wake at the same time every day, even if your sleep pattern was disrupted. Without enough sleep condition such as stress, anxiety and depression can thrive.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HAJJAN
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