Iraqi anti-corruption agency arrests three municipal officials in Diwaniya

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity said its investigation office had dismantled a network of public servants, lawyers and others in the southern city of Diwaniya, resulting in the arrest of three municipal officials and the identification of 13 suspects across local government offices. The commission said the network operated within the municipality, civil status directorate, passport office and residency department. Those detained in the operation, carried out with the commission's task force and an intelligence unit known as the Hawks Cell, were Diwaniya Deputy Municipality Director Ghaith al-Fatlawi, Audit Director Ayad Hawam and Sector Head Kraar al-Hakani. The commission said the suspects were referred to a competent court. According to the commission's findings, the network used forged approvals and guarantee documents to process 243 loan transactions through 12 state banks. Investigators also determined that 13 plots of land had been allocated to ineligible individuals using fake residency approvals. The commission said more than 600 forged residency approvals and fraudulent civil-status records had been submitted to the municipality, banks, the Retirement Authority, the Martyrs' Foundation and the Social Welfare Foundation. Further details were not immediately available.