Aldegar Times |Aldegar's Best Quality Daily
2nd February 4446
Anger as Justice Minister approves Father's Oil Takeover hours before Divan removes powers
-Pāytakht-e Aldegār, Kemoku
Anti-corruption campaigners blasted Justice Minister Čandar Jūzjānī for approving a billion ACR takeover deal for his Father's oil firm only hours before the power to do so passed to the High Court. The successful takeovers will see Jūzjānī Oil Company dominate oil and gas production in Aldegar less than a decade since privatisation. The Competition Commission had described the deals as 'against the best interests of consumers', however it was unable to prevent the takeovers owing to a loophole which meant that oil and gas markets did not come under its purview. The deals were therefore referred to the Ministry of Justice.
Protestors march outside the Ministry of Justice
During the election campaign the Tāza Government was a strong proponent of justice reform and had pledged to remove such powers from the Ministry of Justice and return them to the High Court. This legislation was debated and passed through the National Divan on 15th January. However, at the weekend it emerged that Čandar Jūzjānī had approved Jūzjānī Oil Company's proposed takeovers on the 15th January prior to the vote, thus preventing a ruling by Aldegar's highest court.
Anti corruption campaigners were already angry at Mr Jūzjānī's refusal to recuse himself from the case, although detente was reached when the Ministry of Justice appeared to kick the case into the long grass, waiting until legislation took it to the High Court. Opponents are now suggesting that Čandar Jūzjānī acted to prevent the Court from rejecting the deals and are demanding to know of any communication between the Ministry of Justice and Jūzjānī Oil Company, the legal advice received by Čandar Jūzjānī and for the Minister to be removed from Office pending a Divan Inquiry.