The Ministry of Social Affairs said it did not want to comment on the Anti-Corruption Commission’s allegations against it.
The commission (Nazaha) has accused the ministry of wasting public money on renting a building for SR 6.4 million and never using it.
The ministry, according to Al-Watan newspaper, announced in a response to the accusation that it did not want to comment on Nazaha’s report, because the case is now referred to the board of investigation and control.
Nonetheless, the Social Affairs Ministry’s spokesperson, Mohammad Al-Awadh, said the ministry used the building to accommodate psychological patients in coordination with the Ministry of Health.
He said his ministry provided the building, while the Health Ministry was supposed to provide the technical preparations, such as equipment and cadres. He said this was the situation until the Cabinet issued a decree in 2010 that entrusted the whole process to the Ministry of Health. “The decree was issued after the building was rented as a residential facility, and it took time until my ministry completely entrusted the program to the Health Ministry. The building is in use now,” said Al-Awadh.
He said his department would cooperate with the Anti-Corruption Commission in clearing out the facts. “We value the commission’s positive efforts in looking after the reasons behind any errors, and in revealing any violations by government departments. The commission is a partner in the reform,” he said.
Nazaha charge of ministry wasting money ‘incorrect’
