The trial of a minister

The trial of a minister

May 08, 2017
Saeed Alfarha Al-Ghamdi
Saeed Alfarha Al-Ghamdi

Saeed Alfarha Al-Ghamdi

By Saeed Alfarha Al-Ghamdi
Al-Madina

 

IT is the first time a committee is formed in Saudi Arabia for the trial of a minister who was removed from his position following corruption charges. The trial gives the minister an opportunity to vindicate himself of the accusations against him.

The minister had allegedly misused his official powers to appoint his unqualified son in a government job. By making that appointment the minister has breached his oath of office as well as the confidence vested in him by the higher authorities as the minister of civil service.

In this case we have to focus on the gross mistake committed by the minister rather than his personality. We know that a minister should use his powers on the basis of certain rules and regulations. When the minister violates the law people will lose confidence in him.

Ministers who do not follow the rules and act in accordance with their whims and fancies would become corrupt and exploit their position to realize their vested interests.

In this issue any action against the minister will be not in view of the amount of material damage caused by the appointment or his relationship with the appointed employee, but on the basis of his disregard for regulations, the immunity of his office and the misuse of power.

However, the minister will have the right to defend himself and will be entitled to legal immunity during the trial under the principle of “the accused is innocent until proven guilty”.

Favoritism and nepotism in appointments have become a common practice in all government departments. All charters and laws denounce such negative practices as it prevents capable people from reaching key government positions.

The Ministry of Civil Service was supposed to clean up the government departments of all discrepancies and regulate the employment process without any bias. Excesses are likely to occur in the field but the most deplorable thing is the involvement of the topmost official in this corrupt practice.

Experts have said that a number of such cases have occurred in the past with top officials appointing their relatives in important positions but no action was taken against them. My question is whether the Anti-Corruption Commission will reopen those cases and take actions against those responsible.

Communities should learn lessons from their past mistakes and employees and officials should not repeat corrupt practices that might draw severe punishments. If similar cases are found in other ministries and departments the government should investigate and take punitive action.

I hope that the trial of the minister would be conducted safeguarding his honor and that of his family in order to find out the truth. We must uphold the spirit of justice while questioning any person who has violated the rules and regulations intentionally or unintentionally.

We are a society that is based on justice and treads the path of fairness. The Saudi leadership has set a good example for us in this direction.

Before concluding this article, I once again express my hope that the minister’s trial would be conducted transparently explaining his excesses and violations while considering its national and international dimensions.

The whole world is looking at developments in the region to see the progress of administrative reforms and the impact of our efforts to reach the level of the first world, taking administrative and organizational steps and protecting the rights of the people, including officials and ordinary citizens.


May 08, 2017
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