Iraq arrests suspect for impersonating officials, calling Prime Minister under false identity

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's National Security Advisory said security forces arrested a man who impersonated public officials and state figures to contact government institutions for personal gain, including a call to Prime Minister Ali Ziyadi in which he presented himself as a political figure. The advisory said in a written statement that intelligence units located the suspect in Baghdad, obtained an arrest warrant from a competent judge and took him into custody. During questioning, the suspect confessed to contacting official bodies by posing as various public officials and state authorities, the advisory said. Investigations also found that he had been convicted of similar offenses in 2023. The National Security Advisory said legal proceedings have been completed and the suspect has been referred to the competent judiciary. No further details on the investigation were immediately provided.