A SENIOR banker plans to file a police complaint over allegations posted on social media regarding his doctorate.
The qualifications of Khaled Al Gazawi, who is the chief executive of Ebdaa Bank, were called into question by a Twitter user who has been posting names of senior officials who allegedly hold fake degrees.
It comes as a government investigation was ordered on Sunday into allegations that a large number of private and public sector employees hold fake degrees from fictitious universities.
In a detailed statement posted on Twitter, Mr Al Gazawi said that he completed his online PhD in International Business from Ray University in June 2006 “with distinction”, but admitted that it was not “academically accredited”.
He also said that he completed the doctorate after receiving study materials and paying $13,485 in fees for three terms.
The online university has been named by The New York Times among the list of allegedly fictitious universities with links to a company accused of selling fake degrees around the world.
“I completed all the formalities including paying the fees and appeared for an online exam which I passed with merit, and the degree was sent to me in June 2006,” said Mr Al Gazawi, a Jordanian national.
“I have always maintained that my PhD is a professional degree rather than an academic one, which was also informed to my employers.”
In the statement posted on his Twitter account, he said he planned to file a complaint at the cyber-crime unit of the Interior Ministry against the Twitter user for spreading allegations, making inappropriate personal remarks and accusing him of sacking 20 Bahrainis.
“I reserve the right to take legal action because my reputation is being targeted and I will also seek compensation,” added Mr Al Gazawi, who also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Jordan-based Yarmouk University.
He could not be reached for comment yesterday, but Ebdaa Bank board chairwoman Mona Almoayyed said they have “full confidence” in Mr Al Gazawi, who she described as instrumental in delivering successful profitable results.
“We are completely supportive of the government’s initiative to tackle the issue of fake degrees and take legal action against their holders,” she said in a statement issued last night.
“We understand that fake degrees are the ones that were presented and accredited by the Education Ministry, which was not the case (with Mr Al Gazawi) as we are fully aware that he holds a professional PhD in international business management.”
She described the Twitter posts as a smear campaign, adding that they aimed to target Mr Al Gazawi in response to “tough decisions” he made in 2014, which included firing some employees.
The GDN previously reported on a New York Times article which names more than 200 fictitious universities, including Ray University, with links to Pakistan-based company Axact, which has been described as the empire of the fake degree business.
Pakistani authorities have shut down the firm and arrested its executive director and dozens of employees.
The US daily also said that it has compelling evidence that shows how Axact reaped millions of dollars selling fake degrees to people in 100 countries, including some Arab states.
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