Today, Wednesday, an Iraqi court summoned the justice minister and another ministry official on the grounds of “obstructing” an investigation into a possible corruption case involving prison food after they “refrained” from providing documents, according to a statement released by the the good faith of the federal government. The Integrity Commission was In early December, a body specializing in investigating corruption cases launched an investigation into “information about suspicions of corruption in the case of feeding prisoners”, “poor quality food provided” and the insufficient amount provided despite the payment of financial contributions, as stated in official statements.
The Commission on Integrity said in a statement that “a court specializing in corruption cases has issued a hiring order against the current Minister of Justice and the head of the Ministry of Security” by a court specializing in corruption cases for “abuse of office” and for their refusal to “provide the Integrity Commission team with the necessary documents”.
The head of the Integrity Commission, Haider Hanoun, said at a press conference yesterday Tuesday that these required documents “condemn the accused,” accusing the minister of “using his powers to obstruct the work of the Integrity Commission.”
After visiting the prison on Tuesday, Justice Minister Khaled Shawani announced “the establishment of a committee headed by a senior deputy minister to track and monitor distribution operations and prevent any suspicion of corruption in procurement and distribution.” statement.
The minister affirmed that he “monitors the store records and feeding daily to protect prisoners from extortion and in accordance with the directives of the ministry and the government to protect human rights, including prisoners”, while preventing the sale of items. prisoners who “fall under a list prepared by the Department of Justice”.
He also said that “reports from the supervisory authorities that the ministry receives indicate that the companies supplying the prisons have not fully supplied the ‘materials’ despite paying financial contributions for previous years.”
While corruption thrives in all government institutions in Iraq, these cases are rarely brought to trial, and if they do occur, they are against petty officials.
The new government, led by Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani, has made the fight against corruption one of its priorities.
The announcement of the theft of $2.5 billion in tax revenue in the fall of 2022 was one of many corruption scandals that have rocked the country.
“Rapid and systemic corruption is one of the biggest challenges facing Iraq,” Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, said in December, noting that “its economic cost and negative impact on stability and welfare is enormous.” .
She added that corruption “deprives citizens of their rights, hinders international investment, and deprives the state of the resources needed to provide its citizens with the best schools, hospitals, roads and countless other public services.”
