Revealed: West Bank petrol station chain faces $325m claim in PA fuel-smuggling probe

Detailed summary

Revealed: West Bank petrol station chain faces $325m claim in PA fuel-smuggling probe A petrol station chain owned by one of the West Bank’s wealthiest businessmen is facing…

A petrol station chain owned by one of the West Bank’s wealthiest businessmen is facing accusations of alleged fuel smuggling, financial misconduct and tax evasion totalling more than 1bn shekels ($325m), according to a leaked report seen by Middle East Eye.

The investigation, which has unfolded against a backdrop of worsening fuel shortages in the occupied Palestinian territory, has led to the arrest and weeks-long detention of Tarek al-Natsheh, the chairman of Al-Huda Group, as well as raids by security forces on his company’s offices and the confiscation of computers and financial records.

Lawyers for Natsheh, who is accused in the report of profiting from smuggling activities, say he denies wrongdoing and stands ready to pay any taxes he may legally owe.

MEE sent a detailed list of questions and a request for comment to Malek al-Awri, legal adviser for the defence team, ahead of publication of this article. Awri referred MEE to a previous statement he had given to the Palestinian Watan newspaper last month.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Middle East Eye. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.