Iraq court jails former culture deputy minister for six years over 2014 contract

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Federal Integrity Commission said a court sentenced a former deputy culture minister to six years in prison for irregularities in a 2014 contract signed with a Danish company to display the Nimrud treasures at European museums. The Karkh Criminal Court's third panel issued the verdict in absentia after finding the defendant, a fugitive, guilty of damaging public finances, the commission said. The court ruled that the evidence in the case was sufficient and convicting, sentencing the defendant under Article 340 of Iraq's Penal Code No. 111 of 1969. The 2014 agreement between the Ministry of Culture and the Danish company was for an exhibition of artifacts from the Nimrud collection across European museums. The Federal Integrity Commission said the defendant remains a fugitive and that the investigation and trial proceedings were carried out and concluded by the commission. It added that the ruling has been issued and the case file closed from its side, without providing further details on the fugitive's whereabouts.