A case involving the controversial licenses of SouthGobi Sands, a foreign Mining company, might be delivered to the Ulaanbaatar Prosecutor`s Office as the investigation is in final stage according to a source close to the matter.

Former Chairman of the Mineral Resources Authority, D.Batkhuyag and head of the Office for Geological and Mining Cadastre of the Mineral Resources Authority, N.Davaatsogt, were sentenced by the primary court to 5.1 to 6.6 years in prison for renewing suspended mining licenses that were transferred to a private company controlled by friends and issuing numerous mining licenses illegally. 

D.Batkhuyag was convicted for renewing four of suspended licenses 9442Х, 5259Х, 5277Х, 12388Х to SouthGobi Sands taking bribery and being involved with corruption. The Anti-Corruption Authority has been investigating SouthGobi Sands since last summer.

A Public Relations official, P.Bilguun said “The Anti-Corruption Authority is questioning US citizen Justin Kapla,  the President and Executive Director of SouthGobi Sands LLC as a suspect in the case. Currently Justin Kapla is barred from leaving Mongolia due to the investigation being in progress. The Authority also questioned Sara Armstrong, the Chief Legal Counsel of SouthGobi Sands for the case and remitted the case.