Members of the Monitors Against Corruption Movement today presented a new draft law to the Central Auditing Agency (CAA) at the Ministry of Justice. This law would replace Act No. 144 of 1988 that reduced the power of the Central Auditing Agency to fight corruption and public waste, and significantly contributed to the culture of corruption over the past decade. According to the newly proposed articles obtained by Youm7, economic and public institutions as well as public sector bodies, companies and corporate enterprises – all of which receive public money – will be subject to CAA scrutiny and oversight. The new clauses also reduce public funding for these institutions from 25 percent to 15 percent. According to the draft law, any failure to respond to correspondence regarding breaches found by the CAA or delays to answering on scheduled dates without extenuating circumstances or reasonable excuse will result in serious penalties imposed by the CAA president – possibly including public prosecution. The president of the CAA will be appointed by presidential decree and with approval of the People's Assembly and can be stripped of his title by the Egyptian president. The personal affairs system will be controlled by decisions from the People's Assembly and in coordination with CAA presidential suggestions. This system will include rules governing wages, compensation, benefits and bonuses from the state treasury.
