Ministry of Finance issues two decrees urging collaboration with investigative bodies and abstaining from publishing confidential information in the interest of the public

Egyptian Finance Minister, Dr. Samir Radwan, asserted no laxity will be allowed in prosecuting all corruption or financial or administrative mismanagement proven to be committed by any of the employees of the Ministry or any of its affiliated bodies whatever the post or position of the accused. The ministry will deal with such cases with a firm hand.

All persons spreading rumours to promote instability and disrupt work in the agencies and departments of the Ministry of Finance will be taken to account, the minister added. He urged the employees to perform their duty in serving the public with the utmost efficiency and expediency.

As regards decree 5 of 2011, which has been recently issued, the minister stated that he issued decree 1 of 2011 as soon as he assumed office, to require all employees of the ministry and all affiliate  organisations to release whatever information or documents in their possession relevant to corruption cases. Such documents and information were to be submitted to the Legal Affairs department of the ministry or other public investigation bodies. The minister also requested them to collaborate honestly with the investigative bodies if their testimony was required.

It was recently noticed that many work-related issues at the Ministry of Finance and some of its leaderships and employees were published in a manner that can create confusion, promoting mere hearsay and rumours. This wastes a great deal of effort in clarifying and refuting the claims made, diverting the efforts of the employees of the ministry away from their principal duties in serving the public and the country which is currently in dire need of all efforts.

Dr. Radwan, accordingly, issued decree 5 of 2011, which allows employees to report cases of corruption. It does not restrict release of information as rumoured. The decree states the legal procedures for releasing information and documents which reveal corruption. This is meant to protect the proper legal investigations run by the Public Prosecutor, and avoid any compromise of the ability official investigative bodies to conduct their investigations, Radwan added.

The minister of finance emphasised that the decree does not aim at covering up facts or corrupt persons; it simply stresses the necessity of verifying any allegations before publication, and it clarifies the legal procedures that should be adopted to protect confidential information and to avoid defamation.

Corruption, the minster added, cannot be fought with random measures or illegal ways. He requested all persons who have information concerning corruption cases or administrative or financial mismanagement to submit the information immediately to the various investigative bodies or to the minister’s office, so that all legal measures can be promptly taken. The minister is personally interested in combating corruption and in serving the interests of the all honest citizens and protecting the rights of the country.

(Source: Ministry of  Finance)