Mohammed Abdel Ghaffar, a member of the Bar Association board of directors and chairman of the committee investigating into the financial actions of the previous board, has revealed that some storerooms containing the Association's assets have been sealed in order to carry out a large investigation into the thefts of the Association's assets. He also affirmed that 59 association employees are being investigated, starting with financial and legal affairs employees.
Abdel Ghaffar told Al-Masry Al-Youm: "The invoices and price lists concerning the expenses carried out by the Association are being examined, and all administrative officials inside the Association are expected to be affected." He pointed out that those being investigated are only the employees that have obtained loans and obtained something in their custody. He pointed out that the investigation committee is summoning 194 lawyers who received loans without returning them. He then added that this money amounted to some LE 7 million and that among some of those summoned were members of the board of directors. Abdel Ghaffar also affirmed that the investigation committee discovered massive irregularities in the association lawyers' funds. The results of the investigations are due to be revealed to the public opinion at a press conference. After that, the violations will be referred to the Public Prosecutor so that the Prosecution may carry out investigations into this issue from a criminal point of view. Abdel Ghaffar pointed out that during the preliminary investigations, many confessions were made by the employees about those former board members responsible for those violations.
The employees mentioned the names of those officials and their names will be unveiled at the press conference and before the Public Prosecutor. Abdel Ghaffar was asked whether he and the new head of the Bar Association were just taking their revenge on the former chairman and board members. "Corruption and irregularities at the Bar Association can't be turned a blind eye on and now we are responsible for this money. The new chairman and the new board of directors have found that the Association is like a farm with no farmer, and the Public Prosecutor and indeed the Prosecution must intervene," he answered. Abdel Ghaffar said new bombshells would be dropped over the next few days concerning the investigations, adding that the board of direction will not hesitate to try and preserve this money.
Al-Masry Al-Youm has been the first to unveil the story of the LE 7-million loans.
