The duty-free sector in Syria is witnessing a worsening crisis that threatens the future of hundreds of employees. This comes after the appointment of Muhammad Issa as a judicial guardian of the company, while Muhammad Hamdoun remains as General Manager and Murshid al-Ar remains his deputy.
A duty-free employee, who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, recounts the details of the situation since the beginning of the year. While the company was owned by a Kuwaiti investor who held the majority share, along with another share held by Ihab Makhlouf, things changed radically with the entry of Yassar Ibrahim into the company before the fall of Assad.
According to the employee, Yassar Ibrahim "seized control" of the company, bringing in Ihab Makhlouf and the Kuwaiti investor, who in turn transferred control of the company to Muhammad Hamdoun on March 1, 2024, appointing Murshid al-Ar as his deputy in the company on the same date.
The source indicates that Murshid al-Ar, an employee of Yassar Ibrahim and considered Bashar al-Assad's right-hand man, was ostensibly appointed as a financial controller of the company's income and expenses. He was quickly given the position of Deputy General Manager before Assad's fall, and remains in this position.
The employees accuse the current general manager, Muhammad Hamdoun, and his deputy, Murshid al-Arr, of exploiting their circumstances and depriving them of their rights.
The employee explains that the crisis stems from the investor's attempt to reclaim his rights in the company after the fall of the former regime.
The investor sought the help of lawyers to pursue the case. When it came to demanding money, Muhammad Hamdoun refused to disburse or disclose it and sought the help of a government committee to resolve the dispute.
The committee, authorized by the Syrian state, held several meetings between the concerned parties, including Muhammad Hamdoun, Murshid al-Arr, and the investor. Ultimately, it was agreed that the company's financial manager would pay the employees' salaries for December 2024 as a temporary solution to ensure they would not be left without a source of income.
However, the committee later seized the entire amount, estimated at more than $8 million, in addition to the company's assets, pending the resolution of the legal disputes.
The employee points out another paradox: Muhammad Hamdoun, who previously served as MTN's legal guardian, handed over the legal guardianship of the duty-free shops to the controversial Muhammad Issa.
The source reveals other suspicious attempts. He claims that Murshid al-Ar tried to sell a shipment of Mazaya tobacco that arrived at the duty-free shops days before the liberation, in addition to a shipment of beverages that arrived at the port of Latakia, without the knowledge of the committee or the relevant parties. The employee confirms the existence of invoices proving these shipments.
Employees are experiencing uncertainty, hearing promises of salary payments and measures that have not been implemented.
The employee adds that their attempts to contact management to obtain even modest compensation have yielded no results, and that the promises were false. He describes the situation as "madness," believing the goal is to seize the company's funds.
In a final attempt, the Ministry of Economy was contacted and a letter was submitted to them on behalf of all employees demanding either their reinstatement to work or compensation. However, this letter yielded no results.
The employee concludes his statement by pointing out that the duty-free shops possess significant capital, with more than $10 million in Syrian banks, in addition to documented funds and paid shipments located in Dubai. However, foreign companies have suspended dealings with the company due to the current situation.
He provides a photo of a Mazaya shipment invoice as evidence of his claim, confirming that this shipment belongs to the company and not to any of the aforementioned parties.
A Call for Investigation and Justice
The duty-free shops employees call on the relevant authorities in Syria to investigate these accusations and take the necessary measures to guarantee their rights and protect the company's assets from any attempts to seize them.
The fate of hundreds of families remains in limbo, awaiting just intervention to end this crisis, especially given that all the aforementioned individuals, appointed by Assad, continue to manage the company's affairs to this day!
Zaman Al Wasl
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