Rabeah, Minister of Health, has ordered that internal investigations be carried out by Health Affairs or the ministry before any of its staff accused of bribery, forgery, embezzlement or administrative and financial offenses are investigated by the relevant external authorities. Al-Rabeah said the ministry would take the measures it deems appropriate as it seeks to “unify investigation procedures related to public servant violations and crimes”. In the orders, which were issued to the ministry's undersecretaries and all its 19 regional Health Affairs directors, Al-Rabeah cited Article 35 of Employee Disciplinary Action regulations, which states that a “full investigation must be conducted and employees given the opportunity to defend themselves prior to any disciplinary action”.
