Finance minister Mohamed Moeet meets new head of customs authority Kamal Negm (Photo Courtesy of finance ministry)
Egypt’s finance minister assigned on Tuesday a new customs authority head, nearly one month after the former chief was arrested in a corruption case.
The ministry said in a statement that Minister Mohamed Maeet has assigned Kamal Negm as the new chief, replacing caretaker head and Deputy Minister for Public Revenues Amr El-Kholy.
Maeet stressed the important role customs plays in preserving security and stability for citizens, as well as safeguarding the country from narcotics, explosives and unlawful acts.
The newly assigned Negm has been working at the customs authority since 1985, where he has held several posts including head of the central administration of the eastern region in customs operations in 2016.
His appointment comes nearly one month after then-head of the authority Gamal Abdel-Azim was arrested pending investigations into charges of receiving bribes and dereliction of duty.
The allegations against Abdel-Azim include receiving bribes in exchange for violating his duties and facilitating the entry of goods into the country without the payment of the required customs duties.
The country’s anti-corruption authorities have been waging a campaign targeting high-level graft in recent years.
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