Dhi Qar court announces arrests in Nasiriyah forgery operation

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Dhi Qar Court of Appeal announced that multiple employees and intermediaries at the Nasiriyah municipality were taken into custody in an operation targeting forged documents. Seized items included fake seals, letters and records related to residential land plots, along with fabricated power-of-attorney documents. The operation was carried out by the Dhi Qar Corruption Investigation Office under the direct supervision of a judge from the Corruption Investigation Court, who also serves on the Court of Appeal, with support from the provincial directorate of intelligence. Communication devices and weapons were also recovered during the raids, the court said. The detainees' statements were recorded by the judicial authorities before they were referred to the competent court. No further details on the charges or the number of suspects were immediately available. Security sources said the Nasiriyah Corruption Investigation Court had issued arrest warrants the previous day for eight municipal employees, including senior officials. Among those sought were former Nasiriyah Mayor Kahtan Adnan, a former head of the real estate division, the city planning director and the secretary of the Land Distribution Commission, the sources added.