clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Iraq to investigate 66 corruption charges against senior state officials

August 13, 2015 at 12:16 pm

Iraq’s Investigative Court announced on Wednesday that it will be investigating 66 counts of corruption against ministers, deputy minister, former and current lawmakers as well as senior military personnel.

The head of the court, Judge Mohsen Fadel, said in a statement that “some suspects have been referred to the criminal court while others are still being investigated.”

Fadel noted that “wanted MPs could not be brought to court due to enjoying parliamentary immunity that only the parliament can lift.”

He pointed out that “some suspects attended the court and gave their statements, while others fled,” noting that the court has issued arrest warrants against them. “The court will seize their funds to force them to surrender,” he added.

Fadel pointed out that “the investigation process is going very well according to the law and in cooperation with other agencies.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi on Tuesday prevented government officials accused of corruption from leaving the country. The investigation is part of a wider process of reforms that Abadi recently announced to tackle corruption and political instability in the country.