« Since big corruption cases are a proven nuisance to the national economy, they will be a priority for the office, » OCRC head Abdelmalek Sayeh said.
Algerian politicians on Monday (March 4th) responded to the inauguration of the headquarters of the Central Office to Combat Corruption (OCRC).
Finance Minister Karim Djoudi at Sunday’s opening expressed the state’s commitment to « stop at nothing to fight corruption or any other type of economic crime ».
The office’s headquarters came at a time where the Algerian press has exposed several financial scandals, the most significant case being state energy giant Sonatrach.
OCRC President Abdelmalek Sayeh said that his organisation was there « to rectify the issue ».
« Since big corruption cases are a proven nuisance to the national economy, they will be a priority for the office, » Sayeh said in a press release.
OCRC is an operational tool to combat the embezzlement of public funds. It was set up in 2011 as a central criminal investigation department responsible for searching and reporting offenses to their relevant jurisdictions.
The office « addresses cases passed down by official authorities, in addition to denunciation letters from the people », Sayeh said.
The office can refer the case to itself « when cases are exposed by the press and have become international matters », he added.
National Council President Abdelkader Bensalah emphasised the need « to get to the bottom of corruption ».
« It tarnishes the image of Algeria and overlooks the country’s massive accomplishments in multiple areas, » he added.
Workers’ Party (PT) leader Louisa Hanoune on Saturday pointed out the need to take firm and « coercive measures against the individuals implicated in corruption and the need to initiate an urgent political reform to shed the light on the handling of public funds ».
« It was inconceivable to overlook information that addressed scandals and embezzlement of public funds, » National Republican Alliance head Belkacem Sahli said on Saturday calling on public authorities to « be present in these matters in order to face corruption ».
« The state with all its institutions is facing… many challenges that represent urgent demands, » People’s National Assembly (APN) President Mohamed Larbi Ould Khelifa said on Monday.
« There is a great majority of wholesome men and women in Algeria who hold many important positions and who make sure that public funds are protected, » he added.
For his part, accusing everyone could challenge the credibility of all the institutions as well as their leaders and weaken co-operation with Algeria.
Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) head Bouguerra Soltani shed more light on the issue during a recent press conference, saying that it was a complex, international problem.
« Corruption has spread to the point that it’s structured and has become international. Certainly it’s our money that’s been stolen but the crime scene is abroad. And the perpetrator has another citizenship, which makes prosecuting difficult. »
« Algerians are demanding that sanctions be imposed on individuals involved in these corruption matters. It’s not enough to get a news story, you need to go further and judge all the people responsible for the embezzlement of public funds, » customs worker Nadjet Merabet told Magharebia.
