Egyptian Police

Corruption within Egypt's security apparatus represents a high risk for companies operating in the country. Most citizens perceive the police to be corrupt ( GCB 2013 ), and one-fifth of surveyed citizens report to have paid a bribe to police officials between 2011 and 2013 (Afrobarometer, Nov. 2015). Egyptians have a very low level of trust in the security apparatus due to several instances of abuse of power (Transparency International, May 2015), and there exist high levels of impunity among police officials ( HRR 2014 ). Businesspeople do not believe the police reliably enforce law and order ( GCR 2015-2016 ), and more than one-third of surveyed companies identify crime and disorder as a major constraint to business in Egypt ( ES 2013 ). The Egyptian Ministry of Interior, responsible for law enforcement in Egypt, is described as very opaque and its operations as void of any financial transparency and political oversight (Transparency International, May 2015).

Investigations into alleged abuse rarely result in any punishment (HRR 2014). The head of Egypt’s Central Auditing Organization (CAO), Hesham Genena, has faced critical media coverage and two court cases, including one for insulting judges, after uncovering corruption within the Egyptian police, intelligence agencies and the judiciary. Most corruption cases have not been investigated, and Genena claims that security agencies have barred his staff from inspecting the agencies’ documents ( Mail One , Apr. 2014). In 2016, the Egyptian Public Prosecutor imposed a gag order on publishing any news related to the corruption report issued by the CAO ( Middle East Monitor , Jan. 2016). A lawsuit has been filed against Genena, calling for his exemption from office; the case is ongoing ( Al Bawaba , Feb. 2016).