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WSJWASHINGTON -- Federal prosecutors are investigating the Kuwaiti company building the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, probing allegations that foreign employees were brought to work on the massive project against their will and prevented from leaving the country.
The Department of Justice launched the probe of First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Co. after former employees alleged that workers at the company were told they were being sent to Dubai, only to wind up in Iraq instead, people familiar with the matter said. According to the allegations, First Kuwaiti confiscated the workers' passports, so they were unable to depart Baghdad, these people said.
A statement by First Kuwaiti said, "We are not aware of any DOJ investigation involving First Kuwaiti. The DOS
has already fully investigated these ludicrous allegations and has found them to be without merit. First Kuwaiti is proud of its accomplishments and of its efforts to build the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on time, within budget, and in compliance with the law."
The $592 million project involves a heavily fortified compound of 21 buildings on 104 acres in Baghdad's Green Zone, and is set to be completed by September. First Kuwaiti won the project in a competitive-bidding process, besting several better-known firms.
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