Syrian investigation reveals theft of public funds

The Syrian daily Tishreen said today that during the first quarter of this year, the central department for financial auditing discovered thefts estimated at 225.8 million Syrian pounds, out of which only 22.2 million Syrian pounds were recovered, and 203.6 million SP were still with those who took the money.

These "painful figures" were the result of inspection works by the central department for financial inspection, as stated in its report for the first quarter of 2000. This report covered 39 cases in all the country's provinces distributed as 12 in Damascus, seven in Aleppo, four in Idleb while other thefts took place in other provinces.

When an official at the central department for inspection and auditing was asked on the new mechanism for controlling thefts, he said that they will institute new procedures that will include organizing "surprise" inspection campaigns.

The director of investigation at the department, Ahmad al-Masri, said, "We will embark on instant and continuous inspection."