WASHINGTON, April 29 (UPI) -- Halliburton plans to go ahead with its questioned billing of the Pentagon for $141 million for feeding U.S. troops in Iraq, it was reported Thursday.
The invoices had been held up after initial questions arose about the company's billing practices but Halliburton said its internal investigation convinced executives military auditors will sign off on the expenses, the Houston Chronicle said.
A Pentagon spokesman said officials with the Defense Contract Audit Agency would continue to evaluate the costs incurred and billed by KBR, a Halliburton subsidiary providing logistical support for U.S. troops in Iraq.
Halliburton officials had voluntarily delayed seeking reimbursement for the expenses after Pentagon auditors began asking questions about the company's method for predicting how many soldiers might show up to eat.
Pentagon auditors had questioned bills generated by Saudi subcontractor Tamimi Global Co., which last July billed for 42,042 meals daily at a U.S. base outside Kuwait City, while only serving up 14,053 meals a day.
