Arafat Adviser Suspected of Embezzling Millions of Dollars'

Thursday May 17, 2012 12:15 by William Temple - 1 of International Middle East Media Center Editorial Group

Ma'an News has reported from Bethlehem that Muhammad Rashid, a former adviser to the late President Yasser Arafat, is accused of embezzling tens of millions of dollars, the head of the PA Anti-Corruption Commission said Wednesday.

Muhammad Rashid is a former economic adviser to late President Yasser Arafat.

Rafiq Natsheh said that his Commission is seeking an international arrest warrant for Muhammad Rashid after he failed to respond to an earlier summons by the foreign and justice ministers.

Rashid, who was an economic adviser to Arafat, is accused of embezzling money from the Palestinian Investment Fund by setting up front companies.

The corruption czar said Rashid's case was transferred to the Corruption Court 10 days ago. Natsheh said the court will rule on his case whether he appears or not, stressing that he was yet to be convicted.

Natsheh's Commission was set up by the Palestinian Authority in 2010 in an internationally-lauded effort to crack down on corruption.

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