Iraq court jails electricity official, aide for six years over bribery

BAGHDAD, Iraq — An Iraqi court has sentenced the director general of the Middle Euphrates Electricity Production Company and his private office director to six years in prison on bribery charges, according to the Judicial Media Spokesperson. The court found that the defendants accepted bribes in return for releasing financial entitlements owed to a contractor working with the electricity production authority. The ruling was issued under Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the amended Resolution No. 160 of 1983, together with Articles 47, 48 and 49 of the Iraqi Penal Code. The Federal Integrity Commission had previously announced a six-year prison sentence and fine against the same official on bribery allegations. He was accused of embezzling funds in exchange for approving payments to a contracted company. No further details were immediately available on whether the defendants would appeal the verdict.