CAIRO: Legal specialists say their separation from the Ministry of Justice to become an independent technical authority is a basic requirement in Egypt’s effort to return money from foreign countries.
Specialists, who handle technical investigations in illicit gains complaints, said that defendants in corruption cases might resort to Article 36 of the United Nations treaty for fighting corruption, which states that investigation and judicial authorities handling cases must enjoy complete independence to repeal court rulings.
"This isn’t a sector demand; Egypt can’t restore stolen money from foreign banks unless all investigation authorities are independent and we as specialists, who determine if fortunes come from illicit sources or not, follow the Ministry of Justice — an executive authority," Mohamed Daher Hussein, head of the Legal Specialists Club, told Daily News Egypt.
Hussein said they presented their demands to Justice Minister Abdel Aziz Al-Gendy, who formed a committee to draft the law, set to be completed within 15 days before it is put up for approval by the Cabinet and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF).
"We are currently handling 600 cases referred to us by the Illicit Gains Authority. We present our reports to the authority which refers suspects to the court that issues its ruling based on our reports," Hussein said.
According to their area of expertise, specialists’ are consulted on technical aspects in civil and commercial cases, and their feedback is essential in reaching a final verdict.
Specialists are also demanding legal protection to prevent pressure from "influential" suspects.
"Twenty days ago, two specialists were insulted and beaten while inspecting one of the villas belonging to former chief of presidential staff, Zakaria Azmy, by his brother. Up to this moment no investigation was launched," Hussein said.
"If we had legal protection equivalent to prosecutors and judges, they couldn’t have insulted us because the punishment would be strict," he added.
