Syria pursuing corruption cases against officials

Syrian courts are hearing a series of cases against officials accused of corruption and mismanagement, a judge told a newspaper close to the government on Thursday.

"Numerous cases are currently underway against officials from government institutions accused of embezzling public funds, theft and mismanagement," Yassin Kahal, a high-ranking Damascus judge, told Al-Watan newspaper.

"There are no exceptions made. The law is applied equally whether to high-ranking officials or ordinary bureaucrats, if the crime is proven," he said.

Kahal said more than 15 cases concerning misuse of public funds were presented each month to the courts in Damascus.

Syria's embattled President Bashar al-Assad has regularly insisted that corruption will not be tolerated and has backed an anti-graft drive.

But Syria in 2014 ranked 159 out of 175 countries for corruption, according to Transparency International, with graft endemic at all levels.

Anger at corruption and lack of accountability was one of the driving forces in the demonstrations that erupted against Assad's government in March 2011.

The protests were met with a regime crackdown and descended into an armed conflict that has killed more than 240,000 people.

Kahal said speculating on foreign currency and transferring money outside the country were considered among "the most serious crimes threatening the national economy".

The Syria Report economic journal this week reported that the assets of one of Syria's most prominent businessmen Saeb Nahhas, who is close to the government, had been frozen by a court.

Citing a document circulating in local media, the journal said a court had requested all local banks freeze any assets belonging to Nahhas and two of his sons.

A business source told AFP Nahhas had run up debts of $1 billion (890 million euros) with Syrian banks and had failed to make repayments despite several warnings.

Nahhas is considered closely linked to Syria's government and owns a group of companies that deal in cars, construction, tourism and pharmaceuticals.

Source: AFP