BEIRUT: A final report into the allegations of corruption leveled at the American University of Beirut by a former board member is expected in January, it has been announced. In June Nabil Chartouni submitted a report to the board claiming that AUB, and its medical center in particular “is riddled with mismanagement, corruption and malpractice, costing millions of dollars each year.”

The AUB Board of Trustees held its latest meetings Nov. 17 and 18 in New York, and this Wednesday released information on the issues discussed, including Chartouni’s allegations.

President Peter Dorman addressed the board on the issue and said that “the board responded to the allegations when they surfaced by forming an ad hoc review committee consisting of independent trustees, chaired by the CEO of Petrofac, Trustee Ayman Asfari. The committee has hired independent legal counsel and an outside accounting firm to assist in a thorough review of the matter ... a final report to the board is expected in January.”

Chartouni’s report included the claim that a firm tasked in 2010 by AUBMC to review its purchasing processes “was specifically asked by [the dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Vice President for Medical Affairs at the university, Mohammad] Sayegh for any identification of fraud to be kept hidden from staff and university officials.”
At the time the allegations were made public, AUB confirmed that all claims would be investigated.