The arrest of the head of the Aviation Safety Authority: airport corruption and bad reputation

It seems that the fight against corruption began at the Rafic Hariri International Airport, specifically from the Air Safety Authority, which today issued to the first investigating judge in Mount Lebanon, Nicolas Mansour, a decision to suspend its president, Omar Qaddouha from work. , and prevent you from traveling. Mansour’s decision was based on the crime of “labor exploitation, waste of public money and blackmail to several airlines while exercising their labor powers, which caused the Lebanese state to be fined more than 50 million dollars as compensation for companies. affected by their decisions. ” It should also be noted that the Financial Prosecutor, Judge Ali Ibrahim, charged Kaddouha on November 6, 2019, a year ago, for the crime of embezzlement of public funds and accepting bribes. But who is Omar Kaddouha?

Kdouha Biography
Omar Kdouha’s career at Beirut airport dates back to the turn of the millennium, when he was a firefighter. It is a fourth grade position and not an administrative one. According to the presenters of this novel, they tell Al-Modon that “entering that position requires a Privé certificate, but Kadouha is very intelligent, persistent and energetic. Kadouha developed himself, professionally and educationally, and “received the necessary support from former General Manager Hamdi Shawq, who adopted him.” In 2010, a match was held at the Civil Service Board to recruit department heads in the Aviation Security Authority, and three were successful, one of which was Omar. He was confirmed in his position as head of department and became a third-class employee. Then he became head of the Aviation Safety Authority.

Transfer and dismissals
However, Kadouha’s career as head of the Aviation Safety Authority is marred by many give and take. With the change of ministers in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, in 2011 Minister Ghazi Al-Aridi relieved Qaduha of his duties and another employee was appointed after months of retirement age. Al-Aridi then reassigned Qaduha to his post and continued for three years. In 2014, during the mandate of Minister Ghazi Zuaiter, a dispute broke out between Qaddoha and the latter, for which he was dismissed and Roy Matar was appointed to the position, until Zuaiter re-appointed him as head of the department in 2015. In all this biography, a game of lady, in which the movement of left and right is allowed. This reveals the existence of a hidden pole that begins with political whims and does not end with personal interests, passing through quotas.

Fraud and corruption
Omar Kadouha is considered, in one way or another, to be affiliated with the Future Movement, because political or even personal disputes may have played a role in his fluctuating career in the interests of aviation safety. When it comes to the work flow of the Aviation Security Authority, there are many gaps that the minister or the CEO can fill in to grant permits, opportunities or even enough time to the airlines to work. These loopholes can be used to tighten the reins of companies or facilitate their work. All this, of course, does not absolve Qadouha of his responsibilities, nor of the possibility that he is involved only in corruption files. Sources familiar with Beirut airport airspace indicate that “Kdouha’s work provides him with some indirect opportunities to raise money. There is no real money in interest, but he can cheat and agree with some companies to revoke their licenses and push them to file lawsuits against the state for compensation, and On the percentage of benefits. ” That may be true, but of course it does not relieve all airport officials, specifically Qadouha’s subordinates, from liability.

Margin of play
To denote the margins of the “game” of general managers and ministers at the airport, the issue of licensing airlines. The minister issues an initial license for companies, provided that they carry out a series of steps within a year to obtain the full license. These steps include purchasing at least one aircraft, registering it, recruiting, and other steps. Here it should be noted that former Minister Youssef Fenianos intervened on one of the occasions to grant permits to a Lebanese company, whose lawyer is the son of an important Lebanese political figure (who gives lectures on the fight against corruption). Fenians too, “more than once expressed their desire to be lenient with some Hezbollah-affiliated companies, including Syrian personalities, asking the airport’s administrative body to facilitate their work.” Those familiar with the airport’s atmosphere added to Al-Modon that “Qaduha was not lenient on this matter. He even requested a waiver of this matter, contrary to what his powers say.” A committee was formed, contrary to the law, to work on the granting of licenses for this company.