New law empowers Saudi Arabia's oversight authority to settle corruption cases Authority gains powers to protect public funds and enforce accountability

The new Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority's law granted the authority to make financial settlements with natural or legal persons who have initiated requests for settlement and have committed corruption crimes. The law, recently approved by the Council of Ministers, grants the Authority new powers to combat corruption, ensuring public funds are protected and that accountability is enforced. It includes provisions for criminal investigation, prosecution, and the establishment of councils to oversee the Authority's operations and its members. The Authority's president, Mazin Al-Kahmous, pointed out that such settlements in some financial and administrative corruption crimes will contribute to reducing some of the economic and social consequences and achieving the public interest by recovering embezzled funds to the state treasury through one of the alternative criminal justice mechanisms for regular criminal procedures. Al-Kahmous explained that this law will enhance the role of the Authority in carrying out its jurisdiction regarding the fight against financial and administrative corruption in all its forms and manifestations, contributing to safeguarding public funds and preserving the resources and achievements of the country. This reflects the continuous support of the leadership in developing legislation for law enforcement agencies to ensure the pursuit of perpetrators of corruption crimes and hold them accountable in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements, as well as the recovery of funds and proceeds resulting from committing such crimes to the state's general treasury. The law affirms the complete independence of the Authority, granting it the necessary powers to carry out its jurisdiction, perform its tasks, and solidify its role with utmost neutrality. Additionally, it highlights the Kingdom's position regionally and internationally in the field of combating corruption. He also explained that the new Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority Law consists of 24 articles containing numerous regulatory provisions, which define the forms of corruption crimes that the Authority is responsible for investigating, such as bribery, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of power, and any other crime specified as a corruption crime based on a regulatory provision. It specifies the Authority's responsibilities in administrative oversight, investigation, administrative prosecution, integrity protection, transparency promotion, and international collaboration with regional and international entities and organizations, and in investigating financial and administrative corruption, and criminal investigation and prosecution. He mentioned that it includes provisions relating to the criminal investigative and prosecutorial unit and its independence, as well as a council for the unit responsible for the employee affairs of its members. Furthermore, the law contains provisions related to combating financial and administrative corruption crimes, such as the punishment of dismissal from public office for a public employee upon conviction of corruption crimes, as well as provisions on illicit enrichment and the escape of suspects outside the country. He emphasized that citizens, residents, and all public and private entities are partners with the Authority in enhancing efforts to protect integrity and combat corruption. The law ensures that the Authority takes all necessary measures to provide protection to those who report or provide information about any administrative violations or corruption crimes, in accordance with the regulated provisions. The President of the Authority reiterated his heartfelt gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince for their significant support, which enhances the Authority's efforts in achieving integrity protection, promotion of transparency, and combating financial and administrative corruption.