Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Media: The Associated Press
Byline: SINAN SALAHEDDIN
Date: 18 September 2006
Body:
BAGHDAD, Iraq_An independent anti-corruption task force recommended Monday
that 10 Interior Ministry officials being held on suspition of corruption be
prosecuted.
Public Integrity Commission spokesman Ali al-Sabout said his agency had
stopped a US$950,000 (?750,000) contract signed between the ministry and an
Egyptian company to supply jackets. Five officers were arrested in that case
he said.
The agency answers to parliament is run by a judge who serve a five-year
term. It was established in 2003 by the Coalition Provisional Authority.
Another case included three officers and two officials and was connected to
a US$130,000 (?102,000) contract for the purchase of 2,000 new assault
rifles.
"The report shows that they are second-hand, not suitable for this service
and were bought from the local market," Al-Sabout said.
The interior ministry would not comment on the allegations but said it "
absolutely supports the Commission of Public Integrity as an independent
party," spokesman Brig. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said.
In July, the Los Angeles Times reported that brutality and corruption were
rampant in the Iraqi police forces and cited confidential Iraqi government
documents detailing more than 400 police corruption investigations.
Iraq has been struggling to deal with endemic corruption in the civil
services.
Six arrest warrants involving corruption charges were issued at the end of
last year against former Iraqi ministers who served in the two previous
governments.
One of those six was Iraq's former electricity minister, Ayham al-Samarie,
who was arrested last month.
Al-Samarie, a dual Iraq-U.S. citizen and Sunni Arab political figure, stands
accused of financial and administrative irregularities by approving
contracts for electricity projects. He also stand accused of
misappropriating millions of dollars.
Former Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan also has been accused on suspition of
corruption in the disappearance or misappropriation of US$1 billion (?790
million) in military procurement funds. He has denied the charges, and was
last known to be in Britain.
Another former electricity minister, Muhssin Shalash, was convicted of
corruption and sentenced in absentia to 60 years after he reportedly left
the country.
Shaalan and the others _ former ministers of labor, transportation and
housing _ remain at large and will likely be tried in absentia if they do
not surrender.
Byline: SINAN SALAHEDDIN
Date: 18 September 2006
Body:
BAGHDAD, Iraq_An independent anti-corruption task force recommended Monday
that 10 Interior Ministry officials being held on suspition of corruption be
prosecuted.
Public Integrity Commission spokesman Ali al-Sabout said his agency had
stopped a US$950,000 (?750,000) contract signed between the ministry and an
Egyptian company to supply jackets. Five officers were arrested in that case
he said.
The agency answers to parliament is run by a judge who serve a five-year
term. It was established in 2003 by the Coalition Provisional Authority.
Another case included three officers and two officials and was connected to
a US$130,000 (?102,000) contract for the purchase of 2,000 new assault
rifles.
"The report shows that they are second-hand, not suitable for this service
and were bought from the local market," Al-Sabout said.
The interior ministry would not comment on the allegations but said it "
absolutely supports the Commission of Public Integrity as an independent
party," spokesman Brig. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said.
In July, the Los Angeles Times reported that brutality and corruption were
rampant in the Iraqi police forces and cited confidential Iraqi government
documents detailing more than 400 police corruption investigations.
Iraq has been struggling to deal with endemic corruption in the civil
services.
Six arrest warrants involving corruption charges were issued at the end of
last year against former Iraqi ministers who served in the two previous
governments.
One of those six was Iraq's former electricity minister, Ayham al-Samarie,
who was arrested last month.
Al-Samarie, a dual Iraq-U.S. citizen and Sunni Arab political figure, stands
accused of financial and administrative irregularities by approving
contracts for electricity projects. He also stand accused of
misappropriating millions of dollars.
Former Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan also has been accused on suspition of
corruption in the disappearance or misappropriation of US$1 billion (?790
million) in military procurement funds. He has denied the charges, and was
last known to be in Britain.
Another former electricity minister, Muhssin Shalash, was convicted of
corruption and sentenced in absentia to 60 years after he reportedly left
the country.
Shaalan and the others _ former ministers of labor, transportation and
housing _ remain at large and will likely be tried in absentia if they do
not surrender.