First reported on commodities analysis site OilPrice.com on Wednesday, August 20, the suit was filed on August 14 by Dynasty Petroleum and alleges, among other things, conspiracy to injure by unlawful means, unlawful interference, unlawful intimidation, and inducement to breach contract.
Dynasty has singled out former minister Abdullah Abdul Rahman Abdullah, popularly known as Ashti Hawrami, saying that he personally engaged in illegal practices during negotiations over the purchase of shares in the Topkhana and Kurdamir oil and gas sites.
This summer, Hawrami moved from his position in the ministry to become a senior adviser on energy issues to new KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. He had served as minister since 2006 and held a great deal of sway over how oil and gas contracts were constructed with foreign and local oil companies, NRT reported.
In the complaint, Dynasty said it had agreed to purchase the share from Spanish energy company Repsol, but ran into problems when Hawrami and other government officials, including KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, pressured Dynasty to cancel the sale after it balked at making what it considered illegal payments to the ministry and Hawrami.
Dynasty, which is based in Sulaimani, suing for not less than US$1.5 billion,” according to the Court documents.
The KRG and Hawrami have until early September to respond to the suit.
Reporter's code: 50101