Basra police arrest suspect wanted for fraud, theft and threats

BASRA, Iraq — Police in Basra arrested a suspect wanted in connection with fraud, theft and threatening civilians, the provincial police media office said. The operation was carried out by the Crime Combating Branch of the Basra Police Directorate under the supervision of the provincial police chief, Major General Latif Abdurrezza al-Saad, and on the orders of the Interior Ministry's police affairs undersecretary. The suspect was identified through reports submitted via social media, according to the police statement. Investigators found that he defrauded electrical-supply shopkeepers by placing fake orders and also deceived citizens with promises of employment. Further inquiries linked the suspect to tribal disputes and established that he threatened multiple individuals, the police said. He also allegedly ran over a police captain stationed at the Hussein Police Center, causing a hip fracture. Police officials said the investigation remains open and that work to dismantle what they described as the suspect's illegal activities is continuing.