Iraq arrests electricity ministry deputy minister in corruption probe

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A deputy minister at Iraq's Ministry of Electricity has been detained by anti-corruption authorities as part of an ongoing campaign against graft in the public sector. A security source in Salahaddin province said Khalid Ghazai Atiyya, the deputy minister responsible for transmission and distribution, was taken into custody. Iraq's Commission of Integrity and the Electricity Ministry have not issued an official statement on the arrest. No further details on the charges or the specific allegations under investigation were immediately available. The detention comes within the framework of the government's anti-corruption drive, whose first phase, announced on June 28 under the name "Operation Dawn," targeted public funds and led to the arrest of politicians, lawmakers and business figures. Government sources said the second phase, covering files in the health, oil and electricity ministries, includes tracking of domestic and foreign funds and assets, preparation of new suspect lists and strict measures to preserve the confidentiality of investigations. The government also confirmed that a draft law titled "Where Did This Come From?" is under review, and that arrest warrants issued by the Commission of Integrity are being executed under judicial oversight. It said investigations are continuing.