SINGAPORE: UAE-based oil trader GP Global has uncovered fraud within the company and filed criminal complaints against some of its employees, its legal representative said in a letter to the company’s clients on its behalf.
“A few employees have colluded with external entities using the coronavirus (lockdown) and work from home arrangement to defraud the company and its customers,” Arun Abraham, legal consultant and partner at UAE-based Salam Advocates & Legal Consultants said in the letter reviewed by Reuters.
Salam Advocates were advising GP Global on “the internal investigation that was underway,” Abraham said, confirming that the letter had been sent out to some of GP Global’s clients last week.
Based on preliminary investigations, “criminal complaints have been filed against few employees in Sharjah and Fujairah,” Abraham said in the letter.
The internal investigations revealed that “the fraudsters manipulated records that switched the cargo under the custodianship of GP with those goods financed by various banks and under CMA (collateral management agreement),” according to the letter.
A detailed investigation is continuing on the methods of the fraud, “the individuals and entities involved, and the impact of the fraud” on GP’s business, the company’s letter said.
GP Global, a supplier of marine fuels worldwide with offices in Europe, Asia and the US, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On July 20, GP Global said that it had undertaken a “financial restructuring exercise” after it failed to “get full support from a few financial institutions recently.”
GP Global had also said that recent market rumors questioning the company’s financial condition were “blatant lies” being spread by “vested interests” and assured stakeholders its business was operating normally.
UAE oil trader GP Global files complaints over employee fraud
https://arab.news/z9nmf
UAE oil trader GP Global files complaints over employee fraud
- ‘A few employees have colluded with external entities using the coronavirus lockdown to defraud the company and its customers.’
Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd globally in digital government, World Bank 2025 index shows
WASHINGTON: Saudi Arabia has achieved a historic milestone by securing second place worldwide in the 2025 GovTech Maturity Index released by the World Bank.
The announcement was made on Thursday during a press conference in Washington, DC, which evaluated 197 countries.
The Kingdom excelled across all sub-indicators, earning a 99.64 percent overall score and placing it in the “Very Advanced” category.
It achieved a score of 99.92 percent in the Core Government Systems Index, 99.90 percent in the Public Service Delivery Index, 99.30 percent in the Digital Citizen Engagement Index, and 99.50 percent in the Government Digital Transformation Enablers Index, reflecting some of the highest global scores.
This includes outstanding performance in digital infrastructure, core government systems, digital service delivery, and citizen engagement, among the highest globally.
Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Suwaiyan, governor of the Digital Government Authority, attributed this achievement to the unwavering support of the Saudi leadership, strong intergovernmental collaboration, and effective public-private partnerships.
He highlighted national efforts over recent years to re-engineer government services and build an advanced digital infrastructure, which enabled Saudi Arabia to reach this global standing.
Al-Suwaiyan emphasized that the Digital Government Authority continues to drive innovation and enhance the quality of digital services, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, supporting the national economy and consolidating the Kingdom’s transformation goals.
The 2025 GTMI data reflects Saudi Arabia’s excellence across key areas, including near-perfect scores in core government systems, public service delivery, digital citizen engagement, and government digital transformation enablers. This balanced performance places the Kingdom firmly in the “Grade A” classification for very advanced countries, demonstrating the maturity of its digital government ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia’s progress in the index has been remarkable: from 49th place in the 2020 edition, to third in 2022, and now second in 2025, confirming its status as a global leader in digital transformation and innovation.
The achievement also reflects the Kingdom’s focus on putting people at the center of digital transformation, enhancing user experience, improving government efficiency, and integrating artificial intelligence and emerging technologies across public services.
