Beijing: A Chinese construction firm working in Sudan reportedly earned millions of dollars by inflating the cost and paying kickbacks as quid pro quo, a media report said.
Fu Hong Construction, Roads and Bridges Enterprises, involved in the corruption case, is owned by a Chinese couple based out of the Sobha area of the capital city of Khartoum. The firm has ties to now-deposed President Omar Al Bashir, was involved in a number of projects, particularly in sensitive locations, The Hong Kong Post reported.
The publication stated that Chinese company has been able to enjoy a free run due to the absence of foreign competitors due to international ban.
The report said that the company earned millions of dollars “by inflating the cost of projects and paying kickbacks as quid pro quo.” The kickbacks were channelled to some prominent leaders of the previous regime including the deposed President and his deputy, it added.
Things started to take a turn when personnel from the graft committee raided the premises of the Fu Hong Company in December 2020 and recovered gold and cash. Again, the company was raided in March 2021 and around USD 1,38,000 was seized.
According to the Hong Kong Post report, the Committee reportedly demanded USD 4,00,000 to drop the case. “All these attempts were kept secret both by the company and also by the raiding party.”