The National Strategy for Protecting Integrity and Combating Corruption

Corruption is a multi-facetted phenomenon with different definitions, depending on how one looks at it. In the context of secular law, corruption is defined as a violation of any rules and controls imposed by law; any conduct that undermines public interest by betraying or disregarding it, whereby private interest prevails over public interest, shall be deemed a form of corruption, and so is any abuse of public office for the purpose of obtaining personal gains. In the context of Islamic Sharia, corruption is the antithesis of righteousness.

 

Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Qura’an: “Do not spoil the land after reforming it." (Al-A'raf; 56), and “Verily! Allah commands that you should render the trusts to those, to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allah) gives you! Truly, Allah is Ever All- Hearer, All-Seer." (An-Nisa; 586), and “And when he turns away (from you “O Muhammad"), his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief". (Al-Baqarah; 205)

 

Sahih Muslim narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said “Whoever has been entrusted with the welfare of people and turns out to be running their affairs in deceit will not enter paradise".

 

Imam Ahmed quoted Thawban as saying “The Prophet (PBUH) cursed the briber, the one who receives a bribe and the one who mediates between them".

 

The phenomenon of corruption is comprised of multiple crimes such as, bribery, profiting from authority, abuse of power and public office, illicit enrichment, manipulation, embezzlement, waste or abuse of public property, money laundering, fiddling of books, forgery, counterfeiting, commercial fraud, etc.

 

The experiences of countries with different levels of economic development or political systems indicate that corruption is not linked to a specific political system, but rather appears when conditions are favorable for its emergence. Corruption exists in various forms and levels in all political systems and is an international phenomenon of concern to the international community.

 

The phenomenon of corruption is a complex phenomenon in which the economic, social, cultural and political dimensions are altered. The reasons for its emergence are therefore multiple. These reasons include, inconsistency of regulations, the requirements of social life, and weak oversight. Corruption has multiple negative effects, the most important of which is the negative impact on the development process, deviating its objectives, squandering resources and capabilities, misdirecting them and impeding their course, as well as weakening effectiveness and adequacy, and causing a state of dissatisfaction and anxiety.

 

Maintaining integrity and combating corruption require comprehensive reform programs with strong political support and a strategy based on identifying the problem and treating its causes. This requires the cooperation of government agencies, the participation of society and institutions, establishing and strengthening the ethical principles and values of administration and society, and benefiting from international experiences.

 

Since protecting integrity and combating corruption in all its forms is one of the established principles in Islamic law and international systems, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which derives its systems from the principles and provisions of Islamic law, has been concerned with protecting integrity and honesty, warning against corruption and combating it in all its forms.

 

The Kingdom joined all efforts exerted by the international community to combat corruption, through concluding agreements, attending conferences and symposiums, and promoting international cooperation. Consequently, this strategy was put in place to maintain integrity and combat corruption based on the following:

 

• The strategy has been developed to protect integrity and combat corruption
   
• The establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission plans to undertake the following tasks:

-Following up on the implementation of the strategy, monitoring its results, evaluating and reviewing the results and setting up work programs and implementation mechanisms. 
 

-Coordinating the efforts of the public and private sectors in planning, monitoring and evaluating anti-corruption programs.
 

-Receiving the periodic reports and statistics of the competent authorities, studying them and preparing analytical data about them.
 

-Collecting information, data and statistics, classifying them, determining their types, analyzing them and exchanging them with the relevant competent authorities.
 

 

• Issuing the organization of the National Anti-Corruption Commission
   

 Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority

Authority Objectives

The Authority aims to protect the overall integrity, enhance the principles of transparency, and combat financial and administrative corruption in all forms, manifestations, and methods. This is implemented with the aim to achieve this based on the following specializations:

• Following up on the implementation of orders and instructions related to public affairs and the interests of citizens to ensure compliance with them.
   
• Understanding aspects of financial and administrative corruption in public work contracts, operation and maintenance contracts, and other contracts linked to public affairs and the interests of citizens related to the entities covered by the Authority’s capabilities, while taking the required measures regarding any contract that is found to include corruption or a contract being executed in violation of the provisions of applicable regulations. 
   
• Indicating the violations related to financial and administrative corruption when highlighted to supervisory authorities or investigative authorities, being the case with the head of the authority, in which the violating employee follows the precautionary measures, in accordance with the provisions of the law related to any evidence proving that the act was committed, thus interfering with the concept of corruption.
   
• Encouraging the efforts of public and private sectors to implement plans and programs to protect integrity and combat corruption, while also following up on their implementation and evaluation of results.
   
• Following up on recovery of funds and proceeds resulting from corruption crimes with the relevant authorities.
   
• Reviewing the work methods and procedures in each entity covered by the authority’s capabilities with the aim of identifying shortcomings that could lead to corruption and working to address them in a manner that ensures the achievements of the authority’s objectives and the implementation of its policies.
   
• Proposing the required systems and policies to prevent and combat corruption by conducting a periodic review of the relevant laws and regulations in order to find their suitability and working to develop and raise them in accordance with legal procedures.
   
• Preparing the relevant controls for financial disclosures and performing the jobs for certain categories of workers in the state, then submitting them to the King for consideration of approval.
   
• Following up on the degree that the entities covered by the authority’s directive, carrying out and applying the regulations of criminalizing financial and administrative corruption and how much they work to strengthen the principles of accountability for each individual regardless of the position they hold.
   
• Following up on the implementation of the obligations contained in the international conventions related to the protection of integrity and combating corruption to which the Kingdom is part of.
   
• Providing direct communication channels with the public to receive reports related to corrupted behaviour, verifying their authenticity, and taking the necessary action.
   
• Working with the relevant authorities and civil society to develop a sense of citizenship and importance of protecting public funds, facilities and public property, to achieve good management and preservation.
   
• Receiving periodic reports and statistics from the entities covered by the authority’s function, requested by the authority, and studying them, preparing analytical data related to them, and taking the necessary actions.
   
• Supporting research procedures and studies related to protecting integrity and combating corruption, while urging the relevant authorities, specialized research centers and society institutions to contribute.
   
• Conducting studies measuring the impact of corruption on social consistency and economic development, analysing them and developing the necessary means to address them.
   
• Collecting information, data, and statistics related to corruption, analysing them, and building their own databases and information systems.
   
• Spreading awareness of the concept of corruption and building and clarifying its dangers and effects, the importance of protecting integrity, strengthening self-control and creating a culture of zero tolerance for corruption, while also encouraging civil society institutions and media to cooperate and contribute.
   
• Representing the Kingdom at international conferences and forums related to transparency, protecting integrity, and combating corruption, while cooperating with regional and international entities and organizations working in the field.
   
• Arranging conferences, seminars and training courses linked to transparency, integrity and combating corruption.
   
• Other specializations assigned to the authority under special provisions.

Values of the National Anti-corruption Authority
 

Ethical Commitment

Working with the teachings of the Islamic religion related to all actions and words, as a means of immunization of our society against corruption based on religious morals and values.

 

 

Transparency and Justice

 

Working to strengthen the principle of accountability for each individual regardless of their position and obtaining the required facts of corruption, in order to reveal it to them without fear and without special treatment, ensuring corruption is combated wherever it is found. 
 

 

Confidentiality and Source Protection
 

Ensuring the confidentiality of sources and whistle-blowers, to provide them with personal, moral and material protection, while encouraging others to report on the manifestations of corruption.
 

 

Performance Excellence

Working towards a constant pursuit of performance excellence in everything related to work and our dealings and behaviours with the public.
 

 

Teamwork

Continuous support of teamwork and achieving the goals for which the team was established.

 

Reporting Corruption

Reports can be shared with the Authority through one of the following means:

 

• An e-service provided by the Oversight and Anti-corruption Authority, enabling the beneficiary to submit a report about the administrative or financial corruption in one of the entities covered by the authority’s jurisdiction. Any person can submit a report about an action that he believes to be corrupt, and the authority will verify if the case falls under its responsibility or if it should be referred to other entities.
   
• Toll Free Number – 980.
  
• Postal Address: Oversight and Anti-corruption Authority, P.O. Box (Wasel) 7667, Al-Olaya, Al Ghadeer District, Riyadh, 133311 – 2525, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  
• Submit a report in person.        
• Fax Number - 0114420057.
  
• Send a telegram.

Reports and Statistics Reports

• Reports and statistics in year 2022
• Reports and statistics in year 2021
• Reports and statistics in year 2020
• Reports and statistics in year 2019 
• Reports and statistics in year 2018 
• Reports and statistics in year 2017 
• Reports and statistics in year 2016