Syrian government restores financial thefts

Syrian Minister of Justice Muhammad Khaled Maheym said on Tuesday that the Syrian government restored a total of some 114 million Syrian pounds (US $ 2.5 million) as part of total financial thefts that took place in the governmental bodies during 1998.

Upon opening the conference of the directors of the central bureau for financial auditing and inspection, the Syrian minister said the "total sum restored in 1998 as a result of financial violations unveiled by the central bureau's departments is estimated at 114 million Syrian pounds as a result of some 153 cases. Many of these cases were submitted to specialized courts and properties of those who violated the laws and besides sums allotted by their wives."

Meanwhile, Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Zou'bi said in a speech before the directors of the central bureau for auditing and inspection on Monday that "Nobody is above the law and that there is no immunity for law violators."

Bashar al-Assad, son of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, has been for two years leading a campaign to fight corruption. The campaign has been especially active in the last six months. This new campaign targeted high-ranking army officers and directors general, many of them who were proved to be involved are put in prison.