Ta'if Editorial

Within the recent analysis by Mark Townsend, of Gerson Lehman, there was an important reference to an impending report by a company called Kroll, a British “risk consultancy company”. Kroll, it is believed was contracted by the Bahraini committee investigating AHAB's claims against Maan Al-Sanea.

As Mr Townsend notes, this report is 'much anticipated', not least, one would have to assume, than by the three British former Awal bankers who have been forbidden from leaving the country (though not charged) for well over a year.

Ta'if Information Center has commented frequently on the case of the three bankers, partly because it seems they are the most human factor effected by AHAB's allegations. One of the key points to note with regards this Kroll report is the case of HIBIS, another British investigative company that the three men are in the process of suing (see Ta'if article of June 2010). The bankers' allegations against HIBIS (of course, not yet heard in court) centre around two accusations: one, that they have been libelled; and two, that their confidentiality was breached when the HIBIS report was, they argue, leaked.

So, what of the Kroll report? Ta'if notes that Mr Townsend referred to its “potentially damaging findings”, though of course it has – we believe – yet to be submitted. We make no suggestion that anything untoward has occurred, but it is nonetheless interesting that the reports contents already seem to be the matter of negative speculation.

That could spell bad news for the Awal bankers. Given their past experiences, Ta'if wonders what steps they – and indeed the Bahraini committee – have taken this time round in the process to ensure that the report's conclusions are deemed fair by both parties (though of course the Hibis allegations are just that, allegations). Have the bankers insisted on complete transparency as to the report's authorship, independence and history? More importantly, will they receive it?

Kroll is a well-known and respected company. One would have to hope, therefore, that its report will be treated with the importance it deserves. The total independence of their findings must be beyond doubt, otherwise we, like the rest of those anticipating the report, will be, in the end, none the wiser.