Report of Corruption to (Integrity)

Corruption is a complex concept with multiple dimensions, and its definitions vary depending on the perspective from which it is viewed. However, under the Kingdom's law, it encompasses any behavior that violates any of the rules and controls imposed by the system, as well as any behavior that threatens the public interest, in addition to any misuse of public office to achieve private gains.
 

In Islamic Sharia, corruption is anything contrary to righteousness. Allah the Almighty said in Surah Al-A'raf: "And do not cause corruption upon the earth after its reformation," and in Surah An-Nisa: "Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing," and in Surah Al-Baqarah: "And when he turns away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allah does not like corruption." In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "No servant is entrusted by Allah with the care of subjects and dies while being treacherous to them except that Allah forbids Paradise for him." Imam Ahmad also narrated from Thawban that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed the briber, the bribed, and the intermediary between them.
In Islamic Sharia, corruption is anything contrary to righteousness. Allah the Almighty said in Surah Al-A'raf: "And do not cause corruption upon the earth after its reformation," and in Surah An-Nisa: "Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing," and in Surah Al-Baqarah: "And when he turns away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allah does not like corruption." In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "No servant is entrusted by Allah with the care of subjects and dies while being treacherous to them except that Allah forbids Paradise for him." Imam Ahmad also narrated from Thawban that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed the briber, the bribed, and the intermediary between them.
Experiences of countries, regardless of their level of economic development or political system, indicate that corruption is not linked to any particular political system. Rather, it appears when conditions are conducive to its emergence and exists in different forms in all political systems. Corruption is an international phenomenon and a source of concern for the international community.
 

Corruption is a complex phenomenon in which economic, social, cultural, and political dimensions are intertwined. Therefore, its causes are multiple and include the inconsistency of systems with the requirements of social life as well as weak oversight. As for its negative effects, they are numerous, most importantly the negative impact on the development process, as it diverts its objectives, squanders resources and capabilities, misguides them, and obstructs their progress. Additionally, corruption weakens the effectiveness and efficiency of institutions and creates a state of discontent and anxiety.
Therefore, protecting integrity and combating corruption require comprehensive reform programs with strong political support and strategic substance based on diagnosing the problem, addressing its causes, cooperation among government agencies, community participation and involvement of its institutions, establishing and promoting ethical principles and values for administration and society, and benefiting from international experiences.
Since protecting integrity and combating corruption in all its forms are established principles in Islamic Sharia and international systems, and since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia derives its systems from the principles and rulings of Islamic Sharia, the Kingdom has been concerned with protecting integrity and trust and warning against corruption and fighting it in all its forms and manifestations. From this perspective, it has been keen to share the international community's concern in fighting corruption through its commitment to concluding agreements, attending conferences and seminars, and promoting international cooperation.
 

In continuation of this concern, the Kingdom has made the following efforts:

• Developing a Strategy for Integrity Protection and Anti-Corruption
• Establishing the National Anti-Corruption Authority, which undertakes the following tasks:

1. Receiving periodic reports and statistics from competent authorities, studying them, and preparing analytical data regarding them.
2. Collecting, classifying, and analyzing information, data, and statistics, and exchanging them with relevant competent authorities.

Issuing the regulation of the National Anti-Corruption Authority.

The Authority aims to protect integrity, promote the principle of transparency, and combat financial and administrative corruption in all its forms, manifestations, and methods. To achieve this, it has the following authorities:

• Monitoring the implementation of orders and instructions related to public affairs and citizens' interests to ensure compliance with them.
• Investigating aspects of financial and administrative corruption in public works contracts, operation and maintenance contracts, and other contracts related to public affairs and citizens' interests in the entities covered by the Authority's jurisdiction, and also taking necessary regulatory measures regarding any contract that is found to involve corruption or that was concluded or is being executed in violation of the provisions of applicable regulations and bylaws.
• Referring violations and transgressions related to financial and administrative corruption, when discovered, to the supervisory authorities or investigation bodies as appropriate, while notifying the head of the authority to which the violating employee belongs. The Authority must also be informed of the investigation proceedings and the progress of procedures in this regard. The Authority has the right to request from the relevant authorities the adoption of precautionary or conservative measures in accordance with what the regulation provides regarding those for whom evidence or indications exist of committing acts that fall within the concept of corruption. In all cases, if the Authority finds that such violations and transgressions represent an institutional dimension of any of the entities covered by the Authority's jurisdiction, it must refer the matter to the King for his consideration.
• Working toward achieving the objectives contained in the National Strategy for Integrity Protection and Anti-Corruption, and also monitoring its implementation with the relevant authorities, tracking its results, evaluating and reviewing them, and developing work programs and mechanisms for their implementation.
• Encouraging efforts of the public and private sectors to adopt plans and programs for protecting integrity and combating corruption, and monitoring their implementation and evaluating their results.
• Monitoring the recovery of funds and proceeds resulting from corruption crimes with the competent authorities.
• Reviewing work methods and procedures in the entities covered by the Authority's jurisdiction with the aim of identifying weaknesses that could lead to corruption and working to address them in a way that ensures the achievement of the Authority's objectives and the implementation of its authorities.
• Proposing necessary regulations and policies to prevent and combat corruption, and conducting periodic reviews of related regulations and bylaws to determine their adequacy and working to develop and update them according to regulatory procedures.
• Preparing necessary controls for submitting financial disclosure statements and taking the oath of office for certain categories of state employees, and submitting them to the King for consideration of their approval.
• Monitoring the extent to which the entities covered by the Authority's jurisdiction fulfill their obligations regarding the implementation of regulations criminalizing financial and administrative corruption, and working to promote the principle of accountability for every person regardless of their position.
• Monitoring the implementation of commitments contained in international agreements related to integrity protection and anti-corruption to which the Kingdom is a party.
• Providing direct communication channels with the public to receive their reports related to corrupt conduct, verify their accuracy, and take necessary action regarding them.
• Working with relevant authorities and civil society institutions to develop a sense of citizenship and the importance of protecting public funds, facilities, and public property to ensure their proper management and preservation.
• Receiving periodic reports and statistics from the entities covered by the Authority's jurisdiction as requested by the Authority, studying them, preparing analytical data regarding them, and taking necessary action in this regard.
• Supporting research and studies related to integrity protection and anti-corruption, and urging relevant authorities, specialized research centers, and civil society institutions to contribute to this.
• Conducting studies and measurements related to the impact of corruption on social cohesion and economic development, analyzing them, and developing necessary means to address them.
• Collecting, analyzing information, data, and statistics related to corruption, and building databases and information systems for them.
• Raising awareness of the concept of corruption, explaining its dangers and effects, and the importance of protecting integrity, promoting self-control and a culture of zero tolerance for corruption, and encouraging civil society institutions and media to cooperate and contribute in this regard.
• Representing the Kingdom in international conferences and forums related to transparency, integrity protection, and anti-corruption, and cooperating with regional and international bodies and organizations working in this field.
• Organizing conferences, seminars, and training courses on transparency, integrity, and anti-corruption.
• Any other authority entrusted to the Authority by virtue of special provisions.
• Monitoring the implementation of the National Strategy for Integrity Protection and Anti-Corruption, tracking its results, evaluating and reviewing them, and developing work programs and mechanisms for their implementation.
• Coordinating the efforts of the public and private sectors in planning and monitoring anti-corruption programs, and evaluating them.
• Collecting, classifying, and analyzing information, data, and statistics related to corruption, and organizing a national information database for integrity protection and anti-corruption.

• Ethical Commitment

Working according to Islamic teachings in all our actions and words to be a model in protecting our society against corruption through religious and ethical values.

• Transparency and Justice

Working to promote the principle of accountability for every person regardless of their position to reach and reveal the truth without hesitation, and not discriminating in treatment based on job or social position, to combat corruption wherever it exists.

• Confidentiality and Source Protection

Ensuring the confidentiality of information sources and whistleblowers to provide personal, moral, and material protection for them, and to encourage others to report manifestations of corruption.

• Excellence in Performance

Continuous pursuit of achieving the highest levels of excellence in performance, and in all our work, dealings, and conduct with the public.

• Teamwork

Continuous support for the spirit of one team in the Authority, in order to achieve the objectives for which it was established.

Reports can be submitted to the Authority through one of the following methods:

• Through the Reports Service, which is a digital service provided by the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority that enables the beneficiary to submit a report about any administrative or financial corruption in one of the entities covered by the Authority's jurisdiction. Any person can submit a report about what they believe is a case of corruption, and the Authority will investigate the case if it falls under its responsibility, or refer it to other supervisory authorities (such as the Administrative Investigation Department, the Oversight and Investigation Authority, or others).
• Toll-free number 980
• Sending to the following mailing address:
  Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority
  P.O. Box (Wasil) 7667
  Al-Olaya – Al-Ghadeer District
  Riyadh 13311-2525
  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• In-person submission
• Sending by fax number 0114420057
• Sending by telegram