‘We'll fight the corrupt regardless of their status'RIYADH — Muhammad Bin Abdullah Al-Shareef, chief of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), has vowed to fight corrupt officials everywhere regardless of their status. Replying to a question on a TV channel recently on embezzlement of vaccines and medical equipment from a Directorate of Health Affairs warehouse, the anti-corruption chief insisted that the embezzlers could only be named and shamed in newspapers if there was a verdict from the court to this effect. “Naming and shaming someone in the newspaper doesn't affect the person himself as much as it has a negative impact on his family members and relatives,” Al-Shareef was quoted by Al-Hayat Arabic newspaper as saying. Regarding the fight against corruption, Al-Shareef said the directives of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, are crystal clear: Combat all types of corruption and corruptors without exception. The national strategy of fighting corruption calls upon all citizens, officials, businessmen, teachers and those in the media to perform their duties and report any corruptors to NACC,” he said. The strategy also calls for educating students on fighting corruption, promoting honesty and protecting public money. Al-Shareef also visited Sheikh Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Kuliya, Chief Justice of Supreme Court, and explained the mechanism NACC applies to answer calls from citizens and residents in combating corruption. The two also discussed ways of enhancing cooperation between the Supreme Court and NACC. Al-Shareef also pointed out that the fight against corruption is not a matter merely for law enforcers. He said scholars play a pivotal role in educating society members about the importance of fighting corruption and reminding them of the punishment Allah the Almighty has for corruptors in this world and in the Hereafter.
