By John Lee.
Iraq's Commission of Integrity has recovered more than $3 million in embezzled funds belonging to the Baghdad Municipality, following a favourable ruling by the Lebanese judiciary in support of the Iraqi government.
The authority said the recovery was achieved through close coordination with the Iraqi Embassy in Beirut, leading to enforcement of the Lebanese court decision. The recovered amount, totalling $3,014,457, was deposited into the embassy's account at Rafidain Bank - Beirut branch, and transferred via the international SWIFT system.
It added that procedures are continuing to transfer ownership of a residential apartment in a prime location in Lebanon, which had been purchased with embezzled funds. These steps are at an advanced stage, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice and the Iraqi Embassy in Beirut.
The recovered funds form part of a larger embezzlement case involving IQD 17 billion (approximately $13 million) taken from the Baghdad Municipality.
According to the Commission, the main convicted individual in the case, Zina Saud, was arrested in Lebanon in 2010 while attempting to flee and was sentenced to life imprisonment, with confiscation of her movable and immovable assets inside and outside Iraq.
The authority noted that earlier efforts, in cooperation with national and international bodies, had already resulted in the recovery of $9,384,499 that had been deposited in five Lebanese banks under assumed names.
(Source: Commission of Integrity)
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