Assad Increases Anti-Corruption Penalties

The government’s decision to strengthen the penalties for embezzling publicly-owned assets are a major step toward reducing corruption levels, according to deputy parliament speaker Radwan Habib.



President Bashar al-Assad amended Syria’s “economic penalty code” last week, increasing the sentence for stealing “public wealth” to a minimum of five years, SANA news agency reported on April 15.



Previously, the law code, passed in 1966, had stipulated five-year minimum terms only for individuals found guilty of stealing large amounts of public assets, but the Syria News website reported that Habib said on April 19 that the sentence would apply to everyone, “no matter whether they steal 1,000 lira or millions of lira”.



Individuals convicted of using violence to commit public theft will face at least 10 years in prison, compared with five years under the old system.



Habeeb said that judges must consider themselves “guardians of public property” and enforce the new laws strictly.