Muscat: The Financial and Administrative Audit Control is studying a proposal to establish an independent authority to combat corruption.
Officials at the Audit control said the establishment of such an authority would help elimination corruption in the country from its roots.
The proposal is part of a national strategy to promote integrity and combat corruption.
A team of specialists has been formed to explore and study the regional and international programmes tackling the issue, according to Al Zaman daily newspaper.
Oman was ranked 64th globally in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
On May 20, 2014 Oman began procedures to join the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
Regionally, the UAE topped the Middle East and North Africa CPI ranking, coming in 25th. Following the UAE was Qatar which ranked 26th, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia at 55 and Kuwait at 67th.
Omani experts will travel to Vienna on June 8 for the initial review of the implementation of the UN Convention with the aim of ratifying it under the Royal Decree No 64/2013.
The UN Convention requires the establishment of an independent anti-corruption body.
Meanwhile, Oman continues to wage its war against corruption as more than 20 top officials have been arrested and jailed in the past five years, mostly from the oil and gas sector.
Heftier penalties for violators have been relatively successful in reducing corruption cases in the country.
