Iraq probes Commission of Integrity head over leaks amid suspension calls

The audio leaks involving Head of the Iraqi Commission of Integrity Haider Hanoun, in which he refers to his involvement in financial corruption operations, continue to develop despite him heading an anti-corruption body. While the judiciary announced it is investigating the case, calls have grown to remove Hanoun and hold those involved in corruption accountable.

On Wednesday, an audio clip was circulated of a phone call allegedly involving Hanoun, in which he talks about receiving sums of money and a plot of land on which he built his house in Maysan Governorate in southern Iraq. He complained about the withdrawal of multiple case files from the Commission to the investigating judge in the court. In the call with another person whose identity has not yet been confirmed, he relayed that the Commission: “Is working on many files, but its work is restricted.”

Hanoun stressed during the recording: “We are facing great pressure from the parties, and we cannot work under these conditions.” He also spoke about receiving 1.65 billion Iraqi dinars (about $1.25 million) and a Cadillac from a person named Nawras.

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On Wednesday, the Supreme Judicial Council announced that the Public Prosecution requested an investigation into audio recordings said to be of the acting head of the Commission of Integrity Hanoun. The Supreme Judicial Council media centre issued a statement confirming: “The head of the Public Prosecution requested that the Third Investigation Court in Al-Karkh conduct an investigation into the audio recordings attributed to Hanoun, which include the crime of receiving bribes.”

However, the Commission denied the authenticity of the audio clips: “After pursuing the corrupt in order to bring them to justice and punish them, regardless of who supports them, the electronic armies have emerged from their holes to fabricate audio clips they have attributed to the head of the Commission, Judge Haider Hanoun, and others, with the aim of influencing the work of the Commission and trying to dissuade its head from continuing in his role and carrying out his national duty.”

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