in cases referred by the inspector-general

[GoodTaste]

If there were particularly referred by the inspector-general, then I don't understand why "the" is omitted in "in (the) cases". Is "in the cases" wrong? Why?

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Exclusive: US National Science Foundation reveals first details on foreign-influence investigations
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“We’re only starting to understand these issues,” says Keiser, who was appointed in March to tackle foreign interference. All but two of the cases involved ties to China,although a majority of the scientists in cases referred by the inspector-general are US citizens and are not ethnically Chinese.

Source: Nature 07 JULY 2020
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02051-8

 

[tedmc]

I think the definite article is optional especially when there are many cases.

 

[PeterCW]

I can't give my feeling any justification in grammar but as a speaker of colloquial BrE I would infer that there were cases referred from other sources if the definite article was added. Without the article the inference is that the inspector-general is the only source of referrals.