Law No.175 of 2020 on Combating Corruption in the Public Sector and establishing the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

This Law consisting of 28 articles divided into IV Sections aims at ensuring that anti-corruption and integrity policies are being set within the State in a coherent and impactful manner. The Law focuses on several points, including corruption crimes, procedures for investigation and prosecution of crimes of corruption, the authority of the National Anti-corruption Commission, and the importance of spreading awareness. The Law defines corruption as the abuse of power or activity in connection with public money for the purpose of generating illicit personal profits or advantages for his benefit or for the benefit of third parties whether directly or indirectly . Act of corruption crimes in the public sector includes (i) improper implementation of a public person s obligations, or obtaining licenses from a public person for a private benefit if its occurrence is contrary to the law; (ii) using public funds, state means and other public persons for a private benefit; and (iii) buying or selling a movable or immovable property through information obtained not available to the public such as the issuance of new laws and regulations that could have an impact on the prices (art.3). Special principles for investigation and prosecution of corruption crimes are dealt with in Chapter II which establishes that investigations and criminal prosecutions for corruption crimes can be carried out without the need to obtain any of the prior permits or licenses noted in the law whenever such prosecution has taken place at the request of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Criminal prosecution for corruption offenses does not terminate in the event of resignation, dismissal, or retirement from service, or the end of the period of public service (art.4). Article 5 establishes the National Anti-corruption Commission with the aim of (i) combatting, preventing, and exposing corruption; (ii) implementing relevant international agreements and treaties to which Lebanon is a party; and (iii) performing the specific tasks entrusted to it defined in this and other laws. The Commission shall be entrusted with the following functions (i) receive statements relating to corruption, investigate corruption crimes, study them and refer them, when necessary, to other relevant supervisory, disciplinary, and judicial bodies; (ii) monitor corruption status, cost, causes, efforts to combat and prevent corruption, and develop special or periodic reports in these matters; and (iii) may ask any Lebanese or foreign authority to provide it with documents or information it deems useful for the proper exercise of its tasks. (art.18). The National Anti-Corruption Commission shall develop studies and research, issue reports, guides, and specialized publications in the area promoting integrity, anti-corruption, and prevention, as well as create a database for all issued knowledge (art.26).