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Tuesday, 10 July 2018

Customs Authority boss arrested on charges of graft

Customs Authority head arrested on charges of graft: Customs Authority head Gamal Abdel Azim was arrested yesterday charges of accepting bribes worth EGP 1 mn in exchange for facilitating the clearance of goods from customs, Al Shorouk reports, citing a statement from the Administrative Control Authority (ACA), the nation’s top anti-corruption investigator.

Finance Minister Mohamed Maait is expected to name a replacement as early as today. Sources tell Al Mal that former Customs Authority head Magdy Abdel Aziz is the likely candidate to replace Abdel Azim.

New anti-corruption legislation in the offing? House of Representatives Economic Committee member Medhat Sherif has reportedly introduced a new draft anti-corruption law, which is currently being discussed by MPs, according to Ahram Gate. Sherif noted that the Madbouly Cabinet’s platform contains policy points on combating corruption.

Background and international play: The story is getting attention in the international press, with Reuters and the Associated Press among those noting that Egypt has mounted an anti-corruption campaign over the past few months that has seen a number of officials arrested. The ACA took down the head of the Food Industries Holding Company and several Supply Ministry officials in May and the Menoufia governor in January, all on graft charges.

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