DUBAI: Mauritania鈥檚 parliament is investigating its former president鈥檚 gifting of an island to former Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported. 
The case is part of the corruption files which reportedly involve President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who survived a shooting in October 2012, the report said on Tuesday. 
The island is located on a coastal basin in the Atlantic Ocean and is home to millions of migratory birds and rare species of fish.
The committee, formed by the Mauritanian parliament, investigated several infrastructure deals and heard testimonies of ministers who worked with the former president. The investigation included the gifting of the island to Qatar鈥檚 Al-Thani.
Mauritanian media leaked documents showing communications between Qatar鈥檚 embassy in Nouakchott with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, discussing the 鈥渂eautiful Mauritanian island鈥� received from Abdel Aziz.
Amid the investigations, the Mauritania鈥檚 parliament was also seeking to make amendments to the law which will allow the High Court of Justice to prosecute high-ranking officials.