KUWAIT CITY, Oct 23: The Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee at the Parliament finalized Sunday the draft bill on the establishment of the anti-graft public authority, which will be affiliated to the National Assembly, said Committee Rap-porteur MP Dr Maasouma Al-Mubarak.

Al-Mubarak explained the authority will work independently and it will have a board of trustees, consisting of a chairman, vice-chairman and five members, who have vast experience in the field, as well as integrity and the necessary skills to combat corruption. She said the board will be appointed through an Amiri Decree upon the nomination of the Parliament speaker, adding that the nomination will be approved by the Assembly through voting in a closed-door session.

On the functions of the authority, Al-Mubarak disclosed the authority will work with a body affiliated to it and a number of committees to scrutinize the statements of assets and liabilities of officials, including the premier, his deputies, ministers, National Assembly speaker, his deputy and the lawmakers, Municipality Council chairman, his deputy and the council members, the judiciary, and the chairman and members of the body itself. She said the bill has 26 articles, stipulating the functions of the authority and the penalties. She clarified the officials will be asked to submit statements of their assets and liabilities starting from the day they took office till date.

She added the officials will be required to submit statements within 90 days after the appointment and 90 days after the end of service for the authority to compare both statements. She affirmed the authority’s budget will be part of the supplementary budget of the Parliament.

Al-Mubarak also called on the incoming Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee to complete other related bills like those on anti-corruption, conflicts of interest and protection of informants.