Dutch investigate alleged corruption in Saudi metro project

Dutch prosecutors raided the offices of construction company Strukton as part of an investigation into alleged bribery relating to a multibillion-euro Saudi Arabian metro project, they said on Friday.
 
Strukton is one of several companies involved in a $7.8 billion contract to build three metro lines in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Other participants in the consortium, led by Spain's FCC, are France's Alstom and Setec, South Korea's Samsung, Freyssinet Saudi Arabia and Typsa, also of Spain.
 
Strukton's share of the Arriyadh Development Authority project, which includes 63.8 km (40 miles) of tracks and 26 stations, is worth roughly $1 billion, the company said.
 
Financial crime prosecutors said in a statement that they had searched the offices of Strukton International BV and
Strukton Civiele Projecten BV. It was not immediately clear if the investigation included other companies.

 

"The focus of the investigation is possible corruption and forgery in relation to the obtaining of a contract to build a metro in Riyadh," a statement said. Documents were seized at several locations on Friday, it said.
 
Strukton confirmed on Friday that searches were underway and said it was cooperating.
 
Prosecutors said the investigation was part of efforts to clamp down on bribery of bureaucrats by Dutch businesses abroad.