Anti-corruption campaign: Immunity lifted from three Iraqi MPs… and fugitive officials pursued in connection with the oil and ports file.
A responsible judicial source stated on Tuesday that the competent courts have lifted the legal immunity of three members of the Iraqi parliament in preparation for completing legal procedures and executing summons orders against them in cases related to financial corruption. Iraqipolitical analysis
The source explained, in a statement to Shafaq News Agency, that the decision to lift the immunity came based on official requests submitted by the judicial and regulatory authorities concerned with combating corruption, after evidence and indicators were available that required the concerned MPs to appear before the judiciary to hear their statements and to verify the charges against them.
In a related context, the source revealed additional details regarding the recent field procedures that affected a fourth deputy, Mudar Al-Karawi, confirming the release of one of his sons, while it was decided to keep the other son in detention to complete the investigations, after they were arrested with him during the raid that was carried out at dawn last Sunday.
In connection with this, the head of the Diyala Provincial Council, Omar al-Karawi, stated yesterday, Monday, that the arrest of his brother, MP Mudhar al-Karawi, “cannot be separated from his political positions,” while emphasizing his high confidence in the Iraqi judiciary, and considering that the truth will become clear through official judicial procedures.
Regarding parallel legal proceedings, an informed source told the agency that orders have been issued to pursue officials who fled the country in connection with recent corruption cases. The source confirmed the escape of Mohammed Halim, the director of the office of the former Deputy Minister of Oil for Distribution Affairs, Ali Ma’araj Al-Bahadli, who is currently detained. The source also indicated that the former Director General of the General Company for Iraqi Ports, Farhan Al-Fartousi, has also fled, following the issuance of new judicial warrants against them.
These successive judicial and security steps come in the context of an escalating campaign of measures in the country, which targets officials, members of parliament, and businessmen, within a path that the government has pledged to continue in order to enforce the law and recover public funds.
Shafaq.com