Govt officials banned from accepting gifts in cash

Abdurahman Al-Misbahi Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — A minister or the head of an independent government department can accept gifts worth less than SR10,000 in kind, according to a new order issued by the government recently. The law allows all subordinate government officials to accept gifts, valued less than SR4,000. However, ministers or any other officials should not receive gifts in cash under any circumstances. The new regulation stipulates that all officials can receive perishable gifts or gifts for personal use. Officials who receive gifts priced more than the fixed value on official trips or other special occasions have been instructed to produce them before a concerned committee, seeking consent for their possession. The directive strictly bans officials from accepting gifts from anyone who presents them with the objective of gaining personal favors or to serve their public or private interests. The recipients of the gifts shall reveal them to their administrative departments. All gifts presented to the officials will be considered to be the property of the concerned department and they shall be kept and displayed at designated places at the department. The regulation also calls for the creation of an internal committee for gifts at each government department. The committee shall handle all matters involving gifts being presented to the officials.