Corrupt Egyptian plot to ‘slaughter’ anti-corruption chief

Coup supporters are intensifying their fierce attack on Hisham Genena, who chairs Egypt’s Central Auditing Organisation (CAO), intending to character assassinate him in prelude to sacking him and potentially putting him on trial charged with publishing misleading, false reports about corruption in Egypt.

The fact finding committee, whose formation was ordered by coup leader Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi, published a report on Tuesday accusing Genena of deliberately falsifying information and distorting facts in order blemish Egypt’s reputation and agitate public opinion.

Al-Sisi agreed to send a copy of the report to the House of Parliament for scrutiny. He also commissioned the National Committee for Fighting Corruption, headed by Prime Minister Hisham Ismail, with the task of going through the report and adopting the legal measures applicable to every case.

A parliamentary onslaught

Fifty members of parliament, spearheaded by Mustafa Bakri, have submitted a request to Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Al to refer the fact finding mission to the prosecutor general to put Judge Hisham Genena on trial.

In a press statement, Bakri accused Genena of having links with the Muslim Brotherhood and called on parliament to take a decision to dismiss him from his position and to try him for lying and releasing statements that threaten national security and distort Egypt’s image abroad.

Muhammad Anwar Al-Sadat, head of the Reform and Development Party, submitted a petition signed by 25 members of parliament to the parliament speaker requesting the summoning of Genena and the members of the Fact Finding Committee that was formed by Al-Sisi so as to scrutinise the report and listen to what Genena has to say about what it claims.

In a statement, which Arabi21 obtained a copy of, Al-Geel party said: “Sacking Genena from his job has become a pressing demand after it has been proven that he works for the interest of plots hatched by the enemies of the country.” The party described Genena as someone who assumed his position to seize control of the state and empower the Muslim Brotherhood’s men “so as to take over vital institutions”.

A coordinated attack

In a united and coordinated attack, as seen by observers, pro regime media launched an extensive campaign of criticism directed at the CAO chairman. Most presenters reiterated the same message calling for Genena’s removal because he either made a mistake in assessing the level of corruption, which would make him unfit for this sensitive role, or deliberately lied, in which case he should be prosecuted and put on trial.

TV anchor Amr Adib called on Genena to resign because of his statements and called on parliament to summon him and question him before the public.

Adib asked: “What is the great thing that Hisham Ganena contributed to the Egyptian people since he assumed his position? Why didn’t he talk about corruption during the time of President Morsi?”

In the meantime, TV anchor Ahmad Musa described the report issued by the Fact Finding Committee as something that scandalised Genena and proved that he had falsified CAO data with the aim of embarrassing the state prior to the January revolution’s anniversary.

Lamis Al-Hadidi said the CAO chairman should be made to bear the consequences of the reports he releases because no one can just spread charges of corruption randomly in this way without evidence.

Khalid Salah described Genena’s reports about corruption in Egypt as more dangerous than terrorist operations. He insinuated that he should be sent to prison by saying: “Hisham Genena is not more important than presidents who have been jailed.”

A green light from Al-Sisi

In press statements made on Tuesday evening, Genena confirmed that the CAO will respond to the Fact Finding Committee’s report after the January 25 Revolution’s anniversary in order not to inflame public opinion.

Many of the regime’s opponents expressed solidarity with Genena, stressing that Al-Sisi wants to get rid of him as he did before with all those who oppose corruption.

Literary writer Alaa Al-Aswany ridiculed the report of the Fact Finding Committee that condemned Genena. He wrote on Twitter: “Genena accused top officials of corruption, so they formed a committee of those same top officials to investigate, and they found the charges made against them untrue. So, congratulations.”

Political researcher Issam Said Al-Dawlah said Al-Sisi ordered the character assassination of Genena in a prelude to bringing him down. He said: “Marginalising the phenomenon of corruption and undermining the credibility of Genena were undertaking with a green light from Al-Sisi himself.”

Political activist Mustafa Al-Najjar described the attack on Judge Genena and directing blame at him rather than pursuing those who are corrupt as unprecedented in the history of Egypt. He called for closing the CAO so as not to anger the corrupt ones or disturb their peace of mind.

In a statement received by Arabi21, the Strong Egypt Party criticised what it described as the vicious media campaigns against Judge Ganena instead of dealing with the files on corruption seriously and taking measures to combat it. The party described the manner in which the regime dealt with Genena as “an act of terrorism against the chairman of the Central Auditing Organisation instead of supporting him in his endeavour to fight corruption which has plagued every part of the state apparatus.”

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The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.