MUSCAT: A number of government employees working at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology have misused their positions for personal benefits, according to the 2023 Annual Report issued by the State Audit Institution (SAI). 

Following an investigation, SAI found that the employees were suspected of having “conflict of interest” and was also found facilitating procedures for a company to obtain subcontracting work within the projects executed in the Ministry. The company was paid RO 643,980.125 against the executed work. 

“All the accused were convicted and were sentenced to prison for a period of one year for conflict of interest and were also sentenced for another year for misusing their positions for personal benefits,” SAI noted in the report monitored by The Arabian Stories. The court also issued orders to prohibit these employees from assuming any positions in public office and also ordered authorities to confiscate the funds received in violation of the law.