By John Lee.
Iraq's Commission of Integrity has arrested the General Manager of the Iraqi Cement Company and the director of a private company on charges of bribery.
The arrests followed a tip-off from an investor who claimed to be a victim of extortion, having been asked for a sum of $500,000 in exchange for the referral of his project for the development, rehabilitation, and operation of a cement plant in Badush [Badoush], in Nineveh Governorate.
The investigative team set up a trap based on an agreement between the complainant and the first accused (the General Manager) to deliver the first part of the agreed bribe, amounting to $200,000, to the second accused, who held a position in a private company.
The team then moved to the premises of the private company, where it confirmed the receipt of the bribe. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the accused had attempted to conceal the money by throwing it into waste bags in a corner of the company's front yard. The director of the private company was subsequently apprehended.
The second accused confessed to receiving the bribe and passing it to his brother, who disposed of the money in waste bags. The second accused acknowledged that the received amount was a bribe for issuing a decision, a copy of which was in the possession of the General Manager of the Iraqi Cement Company. The decision, issued by the Board of Directors of the Iraqi Cement Company, approved the referral of the project to the complainant's company.
In addition to the arrests, the operation led to the seizure of four weapons, six modern cars, and mobile phones. The authorities also found a blank form in the name of the Ministry of Interior / Minister's Office / Directorate of Police for the Protection of Embassies and Diplomats. A report of the operation was compiled for presentation, along with the accused and evidence, to the judge of the Central Criminal Investigation Court for Combating Corruption. The judge ordered the detention of the accused pending further investigation.
Judge Haider Hanoun, the head of the Integrity Commission, had previously emphasized the preparedness for the fight against corruption, urging the private sector and investors not to engage in corrupt practices. He called for cooperation with the Commission by reporting corruption crimes, extortion, and blackmail incidents.
(Source: Commission of Integrity)
Comments are closed.