RAMALLAH, According to the head of the Anti-Corruption Authority, Raed Radwan, 82 corruption cases were submitted to the Corruption Crimes Court in cooperation with the Attorney General’s Office during the past year.
Radwan today told reporters that the total number of cases under investigation by the Corruption Crime Prosecutor has reached 82 cases in 2021, including 44 cases referred by the Anti-Corruption Authority, and 38 cases received from the Public Prosecutor, while the total cases submitted to the Corruption Crimes Court reached 34.
He said the number of people who reported cases believed to be corruption cases increased significantly, which means that the people have become aware of the issue of corruption and became an important partner in promoting the values of integrity and transparency, whether he is an employee or a recipient of a specific service.
Strengthening the relationship with the Palestinian citizen and increasing the level of trust with him leads to strengthening the fight against corruption, said Radwan.
He explained that the number of cases referred to the Corruption Crimes Prosecution from the Anti-Corruption Authority or the Attorney General’s Office confirms the political system’s intention to reduce and get rid of corruption despite the fact it could almost be an impossible task.
In 2021, the authority dealt with 1,246 complaints and reports, including 886 complaints and reports it received in the year before that.
More than 600 testimonies were heard, following up on the implementation of decisions to lift bank secrecy on 10 files related to 45 people, preparing 175 reports specialized in financial analysis, carrying out 53 inspections, preparing 220 reports tracking movable and immovable funds, and examining 38 financial disclosures for 25 persons against whom complaints or reports were received.
Radwan explained that there are a number of people involved in corruption cases involving millions of US dollars who are outside the country and efforts are underway to get them back through the Interpol, stressing that “there are warrants for all the corrupt people.”
He said many rulings were issued from imprisonment to fines, some of which reached years.
Source: Palestine News & Info Agency