Egyptian ambassador in Qatar Mahmoud Fawzy Abodounia (Photo: Al-Ahram)
The Egyptian foreign ministry is ready to proceed with a judicial inquiry into allegations made by the Egyptian ambassador in Qatar accusing his predecessor of corruption, Ahram Online has learned.
In an unprecedented televised statement last month, Mahmoud Fawzy Abodounia, Egyptian
ambassador to Qatar, accused the Egyptian foreign minister of covering up corruption.
He alleged that his predecessor facilitated corruption practices
including stealing of public funds.
Abodounia also called on the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) to fire the
foreign minister, saying that the revolution had not reached the ministry.
The ministry is posting Abodounia to Iraq, within a wider regular diplomatic movement. The ambassador described the decision however as “torture and severe punishment for
trying to fight corruption.”
His comments attracted criticism from Iraqi officials. A well-informed Egyptian diplomatic source told Ahram Online that “Ambassador Abodounia remarks did not insult himself, his family
and foreign ministry staff only, but also insulted our Iraqi
brothers.”
The source said, “Iraqi officials expressed their deep resentment because an Egyptian
ambassador is so dissatisfied to be posted in Baghdad that he starts
a smear campaign against his ministry.”
Ahram Online confirms that Iraq is very angry over
the Egyptian ambassador's statements in which he considered representing
Egypt in Baghdad as unjustified and severe punishment.
In a new written statement, Abodounia repeated his accusations that his predecessor facilitating the robbery of public money, and the ministry of responding to his accusations by seeking to cover them up.
He also reaffirmed that he will never stand before a disciplinary board commissioned by the ministry to investigate the issue.
“How can they be foe and arbitrator at the same time?” Abodounia asked in the statement.
The foreign ministry has defended the independence of the board, saying that it is judicial and the ministry “has no power or authority to impose anything on it.”
The source added, “we cannot dictate their judgments.”
He said that the board is authorised to investigate both the ambassador’s allegations of corruption and the ministry’s claims that he violated the rules.
The ministry says through his televised public remarks that Abodounia had broken
diplomatic rules and protocol.
The diplomatic source acknowledged that there were “administrative irregularities,” saying that these were not to do with corruption and have now been dealt with by the ministry.
Responding to Abodounia’s claim that his posting to Baghdad constitutes punishment, the diplomatic source said that the ambassador was trying to waive the decision as he hoped to remain in Doha. According to the source, “he made his remarks against foreign ministry only
when his endeavors failed.”
Asked if the ministry will take the legal actions necessary if the
corruption allegations against it and the former ambassador to Qatar
are substantiated, the source said that the ministry cannot do otherwise.
He said that none can cover up corruption, adding that the ministry
has nothing to hide.
However, the source added Abodounia should accept responsibility
too if convicted by the board.
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