Financial Disclosure in Public Office and Its Impact on Enhancing Integrity and Combating Administrative Corruption (A Comparative Analytical Study)"

Abstract

Protecting public funds and promoting integrity in public service constitute fundamental pillars of the rule of law, particularly in light of the growing manifestations of administrative corruption arising from the abuse of official authority for unlawful gain. The system of financial disclosure is regarded as one of the most significant preventive and oversight mechanisms adopted by legislators to curb offenses against public funds, foremost among them illicit enrichment, as it enhances transparency in monitoring unjustified increases in the assets of public officials. This study is premised on the assumption that obligating public officials to disclose their financial assets represents an effective legal tool for detecting illicit enrichment and addressing gaps that may impede the discovery of conventional corruption crimes due to functional influence or the loss of evidence over time. Adopting a comparative approach, the study examines the legal frameworks governing financial disclosure in both Egyptian legislation—particularly the Illicit Gains Law No. 62 of 1975, as amended—and Iraqi legislation under the Integrity Commission and Illicit Enrichment Law No. 30 of 2011, as amended. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of this mechanism in enhancing public service integrity and supporting efforts to combat administrative corruption, culminating in findings and recommendations intended to improve the existing legal framework.