According to the report of the commission led by Paul Volcker, former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, more than 2,200 companies illegally paid USD1.8 billion to the former Saddam Hussein regime, manipulating the United Nation's USD64 billion Iraqi Oil for Food programme.
INGRA was listed in the section of the report referring to relief deliveries. The report mentions INGRA Co. Middle East, which sold parts for air conditioners and elevators, and INGRA Italia S.R.L., which traded in waterworks equipment and transformers.
According to the report, the former company signed a contract worth 519,328 US dollars for which an illegal commission exceeding 47,000 dollars was paid, while the latter company signed a 225,373 dollar contract and paid a commission exceeding 20,000 dollars.
The commission of inquiry said it had tried to notify INGRA before issuing the report that it had evidence of it having paid illegal commissions and that it had requested an explanation and information, but the company did not reply.
An official source at INGRA said on Saturday the company had performed its jobs in Iraq with the required UN approvals and that it would request a correction of the UN report because it had all the documents confirming the regularity of the ventures.
The source said the ventures mentioned in the report had been carried out in accordance with procedure and that the company collected the money via the UN Treasury.
The company's management board has not had time to meet to discuss the report due to members' official commitments, the source said. The next working day in the company is Wednesday.
About 4,500 companies were engaged in the Oil for Food programme, which was implemented from 1996 to 2003 and was one of the biggest relief operations in the world. The programme was devised to facilitate supply of food, medicines and other necessities to the people of Iraq during sanctions imposed on the Saddam regime over attacks on Kuwait.