Qatar Airways' former Chairman of the Board of Directors was recently handed a jail sentence over various charges. Ali Sharif Al-Emadi has also received a hefty fine related to the multiple charges against him.

What Were His Crimes?

Ali Sharif Al-Emadi has been sentenced to 20 years in prison on account of money laundering. He has been found guilty of laundering over $5.6 billion from unconfirmed origins. In addition to money laundering charges, he has also been charged with bribery, abuse of position and power, and damage to public funds.

The jail sentence was handed out on January 10. Afterward, the Qatari courts also imposed a $16.7 billion fine on Al-Emadi. It should be noted that the charges placed on Al-Emadi relate to his previous role as Qatar's Finance Minister. These charges are unrelated to his other business roles, including as the former Chairman of the Board of Directors at Qatar Airways.

An Influential Individual

Al-Emadi was appointed Qatar's Finance Minister in June 2013 and held this position until 2021. Then, the Attorney General of Qatar issued a notice to arrest him on various charges, such as misuse of public money, abuse of function, and abuse of power. Before he was appointed Finance Minister, Al-Emadi had been featured in the "Top 100 Powerful Arabs" list. He was listed at number 32 thanks to his role in the rapid expansion and growth of the Qatar National Bank.

In addition to his role at Qatar Airways, he was also on the Qatar Investment Authority's Board of Directors. Furthermore, he was instrumental in Qatar's preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Before 2021, such high-profile individuals charged with corruption cases were unheard of in Qatar. 

However, provisions giving such ministers immunity from prosecution were abolished in May 2021, the day before Al-Emadi was arrested due to his various corruption charges. Following the abolishment of the aforementioned provisions, multiple members related to Qatar's financial market have received similar charges and sentences. 

Al-Emadi's jail sentence and charges are unrelated to Qatar Airways as a whole. However, it's important to note the individual's important role at the airline a few years back. This situation does not affect the current Qatar Airways administration and the airline's operations. The airline has not yet commented on the situation.