Khaberni - "Reuters" mentioned that during an unannounced meeting, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa ordered state employees who own luxury cars to hand over their keys or else face investigations for illicit enrichment.
According to the ministry, Al-Sharaa jokingly said, "I didn't realize government salaries were this hefty!" after more than a hundred of his supporters arrived at his former base, which was previously held by the opposition. Many of them arrived in luxury sports cars including Cadillac Escalades, Range Rovers, and Chevrolet Tahoes.
Al-Sharaa reprimanded the officials and businessmen present, saying: "Have you forgotten that you are children of the revolution? Has the world tempted you so quickly?" as reported by two individuals who attended the meeting.
The meeting took place on August 30 at Al-Sharaa's former headquarters in Idlib province, northwest Syria, far from his official office in Damascus, where he sat beside two senior security officials.
Al-Sharaa issued an order for civil servants who own luxury cars to hand over their keys or face investigations into suspected illicit enrichment, according to two attendees and two other civil servants who were informed about the meeting, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity. The attendees added that only a few handed over their keys before leaving the hall.
Syrian sources believe that the message Al-Sharaa conveyed to his supporters reflects the major challenge facing the 43-year-old president, which is how to transition from leading an armed rebellion to civilian governance without repeating the rampant corruption in Assad's police state.
The bet lies in maintaining the legitimacy that Al-Sharaa has earned among Syrians and abroad after toppling the dictator.
The Syrian Ministry of Information confirmed to "Reuters" that Al-Sharaa held a "friendly, informal" meeting in Idlib with former leaders and prominent figures, during which they discussed political and security challenges and the need to change the "investment culture established by the previous regime."
The ministry stated that the president emphasized that he would not tolerate any suspicions of corruption among state employees, but denied any car keys were handed over during the meeting.
It appears that as an example of Al-Sharaa's attempts to balance within his family, sources mentioned that two of his older brothers hold high positions in the new government. Hazem oversees local and foreign investments, including projects for former fighters tasked with rebuilding the Syrian economy, while Maher, a gynecologist holding Syrian-Russian citizenship, holds the position of Secretary-General of the Presidency, where he heads official meetings and participates in encounters with foreign officials.
However, his older brother Jamal fell within Al-Sharaa's anti-corruption campaign, as mentioned by six individuals familiar with the matter, including officials and businessmen.
After Al-Sharaa came to power, Jamal established an office in Damascus from which he managed several business activities, including import-export companies and tourism projects. He became a familiar figure in the capital's upscale hotels and restaurants, driving around in a luxurious black Mercedes without plates.
In August, Al-Sharaa ordered the office to be closed and prohibited any governmental body from dealing with his brother following allegations that Jamal exploited his relationship with the president to arrange dozens of meetings with officials and businessmen for personal gain.
A "Reuters" reporter visited the office this month and found it sealed with red wax, a common procedure in the region for confiscating properties subject to corruption investigations.
The Syrian Ministry of Information confirmed the office closure and stated that "Jamal Al-Sharaa was not allowed to engage in any investment or commercial activities," clarifying that the presidency had indicated since the government formation that Jamal held no official position.
After closing his brother's office, Al-Sharaa held a family meeting that included his 79-year-old father, where he warned his family members against exploiting the family name for personal gain, according to a relative who attended the meeting.
Government sources highlighted that one of the major challenges facing the Syrian business community is the lack of transparency in the settlements made by the government with individuals accused of connections with the previous regime, allowing them to resume work in exchange for giving up part of their properties.
Six sources mentioned that the government is organizing these settlements through an illicit gains committee established in May, preparing to transfer the confiscated assets to a new sovereign fund under formation, which now includes hundreds of companies, buildings, and factories that were owned by individuals linked to the Assad regime.
However, these new entities themselves have become subject to suspicions, as two lawyers working in the fund under investigation were detained on corruption charges, with one of them detained for more than a month, according to the sources.
The Ministry of Information confirmed this information, indicating that investigations are still ongoing and the charges have not yet been substantiated. Some members of the illicit gains committee have been investigated for misconduct, but no formal charges have been made so far.
