The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, directed the Public Prosecution to go down and investigate the former head of the Aden Free Zone, Hassan Al-Haid, and senior employees, based on Judicial Memorandum No. 628, dated August 28, 2022, regarding the arrest of Al-Haid and appointing a replacement for him. Dr. Sheikh Banafa has been appointed acting Chairman of the Authority.

His Excellency the Prime Minister asked the Public Prosecutor to direct the Specialized Funds Prosecution to descend on the Free Zone building, complete the investigation procedures, close the records, arrest the Broadcasting Committee, and take legal measures against Hassan Haid for his refusal to hand over the Free Zone.

A judicial committee went down to the free zone on Sunday and closed the financial records and prevented the district from disposing of the free zone’s affairs and referred it for investigation, along with the authority’s senior employees, in cases attributed to them by the judiciary regarding the disposal of the free zone’s lands and other corruption cases.

In addition, October 14 newspaper apologized for an advertisement it had previously published about changing the seal of the General Authority for the Free Zone, which stated:

October 14 newspaper would like to clarify to the reader the free zone advertisements that were published in last Thursday and Sunday issues.

We clarify that the newspaper has received an announcement from the Chargé d’Affaires of the Free Zone, Brother Sheikh Banafa, about changing the seal of the Free Zone.

Last Saturday, Brother Hassan Haid Al-Mawqif, who was referred to the Public Funds Prosecution, sent an official letter stamped with the Free Zone stamp denying the previous announcement, taking advantage of the advertising official’s lack of knowledge of the arrest decision.

Therefore, the newspaper confirms that it disclaims all responsibility, reserves the right to respond and sue, and holds the so-called Hassan Al-Haid all responsibility for this manipulation.

We republish the correct announcement by changing the seal inside this issue.