A parliamentary probe committee investigating Bahrain's Labour Market Regulatory Authority has hinted at widespread irregularities.

The committee, which met yesterday, claimed it has compelling evidence that top hierarchy is involved.

A former labour minister reportedly abused his position to ensure himself large emoluments as LMRA chairman, according to the panel, reports our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej. He allegedly connived with former chief executive officer Ali Radhi to unscrupulously profit from the massive emoluments, it claimed.

Under the constitutional provisions, a board chairman is not entitled to any remunerations, if he serves as minister, the panel pointed out.

'The LMRA chairman and board members continued to benefit from this unscrupulous largesse, failing to convene for a single meeting over the last 16 months,' probe committee chairman Dr Ali Ahmed said.

The panel is in possession of a receipt, showing the minister's unscrupulous emoluments, in violation of his position as minister, Dr Ahmed said.

It also has an official letter undersigned by the former minister approving bonus payment to board members, except the LMRA chairman, he said.

'This is the compelling evidence, undersigned by the minister himself, admitting that he is not entitled to any emoluments,' Dr Ahmed said.

He also accused the LMRA officials of attempting to derail the panel's work.

'All our correspondences requesting important data have gone unanswered.'

The committee will submit its final report later this week, along with the evidence, he said.

The committee comprises vice-chairman Ali Zayed and members Abdulaziz Almeer, Shaikh Jassim Al Saidi and Abdulhalim Mourad, who are all MPs.-TradeArabia News Service