Accused of corruption, Iraqi official flees to Iran

Former Governor of Iraq’s Basra Province, Majid Al-Nasrawi, who is accused of corruption, fled to Iran after handing in his resignation from the post, a local official told the Anadolu Agency on Friday.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Al-Nasrawi left Iraq through the Shalamcheh crossing with Iran although a travel ban had been issued against him.

According to the sources, Al-Nasrawi and his son Mohamed Baqer are facing corruption charges related to contracts signed with contractors who carried out service projects in Basra.

Iraqi media reported Al-Nasrawi saying on Friday that he does not trust the country’s judiciary.

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He noted that there had been attempts to harm him, stating that employees and contractors were arrested and threatened to give accounts against him and say he is involved in corruption. He said he left the country after receiving threats after he had resigned.

Iraq is ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.