“No one is above the law”!

Photo credit: All-Biz

The above, instantly recognizable catchphrase, too often sacrificed in real life, was used by police yesterday in response to outrageous statements made by the Director of Ribat University’s Institute of Research, Criminal and Social Studies -himself a police officer!

The director made the shameless admission that the Investigations Department is unable to conduct a probe or inspection of meat factories suspected of violating health standards; because these are protected from on high by authorities too powerful to bother, even for the sake of people’s lives!

According to ‘Al Sudani’ Arabic daily, the spokesman for Khartoum State Police, General Al-Sir Ahmed Omer underlined that police commit to the strictest professional standards when doing their work, stressing that no entity, whatever and however powerful, is above the law or able to prevent police form going about their duties.

Omer pointed out that meat-producing companies and factories are dealt with only once enough information has been gathered by investigators, and that conducting a raid without the proper search warrants will compromise any investigation.

On its part, the ministry of health revealed that a decision is in the making to embark on an inspection campaign of meat factories, to guarantee their compliance with health standards.

Revisiting the above title, the story goes that two days ago the Consumer Protection Unit exposed a poultry farm, run by foreigners in an area north of Khartoum Bahri, where artificial growth hormones were injected to hasten the growth process of chicks. The hormones used are known for causing cancer and kidney failure.

 Police has done well to issue its clarification, that no one is above the law whatsoever position he or she holds; cops and authority figures included.

 It would have been wiser though, to deal with the incident through the media in a way that assures citizens and increases their confidence in regulatory bodies, without causing the panic that sent sales plummeting by 50% in the vital food industry sector!

It was far better for relevant authorities to disclose the full information to the public with regard to this solitary company-if indeed that’s the case-and explain measures taken, including penalties. Citizens would have been vastly reassured and anyone thinking of tampering with food products will think twice before putting consumers at risk.