Survey finds nepotism most pervasive form of corruption

RIYADH: A recent study conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Nazaha, revealed that nepotism is the most common form of corruption in the government services sector.
Callousness in work comes second with 19.36 percent followed by bribes, embezzlement and forgery at the bottom of the list.
The study titled “Financial and administrative corruption in government bodies,” stated that corruption is one of the major challenges facing society, among drug taking, terrorism, housing, unemployment and poverty.
A random sample of government employees and those who visit government bodies participated in the study. The sample reached 1,254 in three areas: Riyadh, the Eastern Province and Makkah.
The study aimed to gauge the degree of administrative and financial corruption in government service bodies and define its kinds and level of existence, in addition to knowing the most important reasons and challenges facing the Saudi community. The study also aims to evaluate the quality of services offered by some government bodies.
Survey participants believe that weak religious factors and morals are one of the reasons contributing to the spread of financial and administrative corruption, followed by weak control and laxity in implementing regulatory punishments, old and complicated systems and absence of transparency.
The study showed that personal experience is the greatest source of information about corruption in this sector, which gives evidence to the suffering of the sample from corruption.
The second source is talk in councils with 26.20 percent, the media with 16.68 percent.