New Iraq committee to investigate government corruption

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi yesterday ordered the formation of a permanent committee to investigate financial and administrative corruption in government ministries and security institutions.

The Central Investigation Commission said in a statement yesterday that Al-Abadi ordered a committee to be formed to investigate ministries and security service officials accused of corruption and blackmail.

The statement explained that the decision came in response to all the complaints and abuses reported by citizens about irregularities, bribes and extortion.

Read: Iraq PM investigates former ministers on corruption charges

On 7 August, Al-Abadi referred a number of former ministers and senior officials for investigation over “corruption in the contracts of schools lagging in several provinces”.

Iraq ranked 169th among 180 countries on Transparency International’s corruption index.

The Iraqi prime minister’s decision comes amid protests sweeping the country’s cities demanding improvements to public services and for authorities to tackle corruption within their ranks.