COI recovers billions of dinars, jewelry from convicted officials

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Commission of Integrity (COI) declared on Sunday that it had retrieved gold jewelry, hundreds of thousands of US dollars, and billions of dinars from government officials found guilty in financial corruption cases.

The head COI, Haidar Hanoun, said in a press conference that $1.63 million had been recovered from Raad Qasim Muhammad Ali, who is convicted of illicit gain, according to Shafaq News.

Hanoun elaborated that the convict was the director of the economic department in the Ministry of Electricity and that during an investigation, gold jewelry had been found in his possession.

Hanoun indicated that the second amount is approximately 1.84 million Iraqi dinars recovered from Alaa Shawhi Abu Ali Al-Saadi, an official in Maysan governorate.

The head of the COI revealed that $250,000 had been recovered from Mohammed Hanash Mahmoud, who previously held the position of director of the Trebil Border Crossing, an official entry point with Jordan.

Hanoun announced last July the recovery of large amounts of money and real estate taken over in the governorates of Baghdad, Najaf, and Anbar.

Hanoun clarified earlier that the COI started taking measures to identify illicit gains by officials, indicating that laws are being amended and will be sent to the cabinet and then the parliament for ratification.

The Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid, stressed last year the importance of the COI’s role in confronting corruption, prosecuting corrupt officials, and recovering smuggled Iraqi funds.

The Iraqi President called for reviewing the financial legislation to limit corruption, emphasizing the Iraqi Presidency’s support for the efforts of the COI to fight corruption.

Source: Iraqi News, 10. March 2024

COI recovers billions of dinars, jewelry from convicted officials