RIYADH -- The Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) emphasized that it will protect the confidentiality about the whistleblowers in connection with suspicious practices of corruption. "No whistleblower will be harmed because of his report," it said while urging the public to report any suspicious instances of corruption, deficiency in services or work procedures, or stalled projects through any of the following means: Toll-free No. 980, E-mail: [email protected], fax No. 0114420057. The Nazaha stressed that the whistleblower can provide what information he has about the incidents of corruption without the need to disclose his name, provided that the furnished information is searchable and traceable so that the authority can take necessary measures in this regard. The whistleblower can share the information through contacting the uniform number of Nazaha 0112644444 during official working hours. The authority receives reports submitted to it on suspicions financial and administrative corruption, and the bodies that come under its jurisdiction include public authorities, and companies in which the state owns at least 25 percent of its capital. It is noteworthy that Nazaha announced during the past few days that it had initiated a number of financial and administrative corruption cases against dozens of citizens and residents, including officers and employees in a number of ministries and government agencies with financial amounts exceeding SR340.5 million. Last month, Nazaha started procedures for the investigation of administrative and criminal cases involving748 defendants and arrest of 282 citizens and residents. They include employees of the ministries of defense; interior; health; justice; municipal and rural affairs and housing; environment, water and agriculture; education; human resources and social development; Hajj and Umrah, transport and logistics services; and Nazaha for their involvement on charges of bribery, abuse of power and forgery. He stated that the regular procedures are being completed before referring them to the judiciary.
