A parliamentary committee on Wednesday met with the Illicit Gains Authority, the committee tasked with recovering stolen funds transferred abroad. The authority is headed by Assem al-Gohary, assistant justice minister.

MP Essam al-Erian, chairman of the parliamentary fact-finding committee tasked with following up on the work of the authority, said that the meeting discussed successes in recovering stolen funds and the difficulties faced by the Illicit Gains Authority.

In a press statement on Wednesday, Erian said the Illicit Gains Authority ensured the parliamentary committee that it was taking the necessary steps to recover stolen funds.

Erian added that they listened to the authority’s proposals and recommendations on how to facilitate its work, noting that it had asked the People's Assembly to issue a law concerning the recovery of stolen funds from abroad.

Erian emphasized the authority’s independence and said, "We assured them that we are only following up on measures taken to recover the funds as well as the obstacles facing the authority."

He added that the parliamentary committee was not a monitoring power over the Illicit Gains Authority, but that the two sides would cooperate with each other.

Erian said the parliamentary fact-finding committee will continue to meet with officials to determine the steps taken to recover stolen funds. He said that they were planning on meeting a number of Central Bank officials next Tuesday.