Audit Finds Major Fraud
A state oversight body announced on 8 August 2026 that an audit of insurance and pension branches in Aleppo had uncovered systematic fraud, with preliminary estimates pointing to more than 90 billion Syrian pounds (SYP) in lost public revenue.
The review was carried out in the northern governorate by the Central Authority for Oversight and Inspection, whose team included 33 specialized inspectors examining the accounts of the region's social insurance and pension offices.
Billions in Lost Revenue
Investigators found that contracts with a combined value of about 3 trillion pounds had been deliberately undervalued, reducing the insurance contributions owed to the state and starving public funds of income over several years.
The 90 billion pound figure represents an initial calculation of the revenue lost through unpaid fees and manipulated filings, and officials indicated the amount could change as the audit continues. The scale of the undervaluation, they said, had accumulated quietly across many contracts rather than in a single large transaction.
Forged Cards and Unregistered Workers
The audit documented forged pension identification cards that had been used to draw benefit payments fraudulently, alongside industrial workers who were never entered into social insurance records.
Together, the practices allowed contributions to be understated while payouts were inflated, draining two funds meant to cover retirees and insured workers.
Referral to the Courts
The findings have been handed to the judiciary, with the case referred to the office of the Attorney General for prosecution.
Senior provincial and security officials took part in the review, signaling coordinated backing for the recovery of the missing funds.
Part of a Wider Cleanup
Officials linked the Aleppo case to a broader effort to tighten financial controls, noting that seven employees had been dismissed the previous month over bribery and embezzlement.
The oversight authority said continued inspections were intended to protect state revenues and restore confidence in public institutions.