Nazaha probes social security claims

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha) is racing against the clock to unravel the circumstances surrounding the enrollment of 107,000 beneficiaries on the lists of social insurance without legal entitlements. These beneficiaries are currently receiving SR300 million a month from the Ministry of Social Affairs, according to preliminary estimates. 

Abdulrahman Al-Ajlan, the official spokesman for Nazaha, was quoted as saying by a local publication that the commission was gathering detailed information about the issuance of social security funds to a segment illegible to receive the funds. 
“The commission has opened a special file on the case to verify how the money was disbursed and the people behind it,” he added. 
The spokesman said Nazaha is currently checking the procedures taken by the Ministry of Social Affairs in this regard. “The matter will take some time and cannot be hastened,” he added.

Last year, Al-Ajlan revealed Nazaha received 4,500 reports on corruption from citizens, while the watch body makes all efforts possible to verify the validity of such reports.

“The annual report of Nazaha recently submitted to the Shoura Council, which is scheduled to be discussed after Eid Al-Fitr, explained the difficulties faced and the delays associated with taking the necessary procedures on corruption cases at the investigation agencies,” he said, noting that this is contrary to the national strategy for the protection of honesty and integrity.

“The nature of corruption crimes and their complexity requires a rapid end to the investigation to prevent corrupted persons from hiding their crimes and dispensing the funds they illegally acquired, or tamper with any evidence of their actions ,” he asserted. A formal decision was immediately taken to stop the financial assistance due to the beneficiaries not being entitled to such funds.