RAMALLAH, July 7, 2011 (WAFA) – Rafiq Natsheh, who heads the anti-corruption authority, Thursday announced the lifting of immunity granted to several cabinet ministers in order to investigate them properly on charges of corruption.
Natsheh told Voice of Palestine radio that lifting the immunity comes in order to allow the investigation to begin and those found to be corrupt will be taken to court.
He added that President Mahmoud Abbas gave permission to lift the immunity off any one in the Palestinian Authority if evidence was found implicating him or her of corruption. This is done in cooperation with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Natsheh said 'the law specified that there are people how have immunity based on their job, and in case of any suspicions against them their immunity could be lifted.”
Government spokesman Ghassan Khatib said in a statement reacting to what Natsheh said that the government has always been a catalyst in supporting accountability, transparency and in enforcing the rule of law.
“Lifting the immunity in accordance with the law will be done against those who will be put on trial and not when they will be questioned on anything or for any information required by the justice system,” he said.
Khatib stressed that “there are so far no indictments or legal proceedings” against any of the cabinet ministers.
T.R/M.A.
