Iraq anti-corruption body says 'surprise cases' expected this year

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Federal Anti-Corruption Commission expects major developments this year in cases involving the extradition of suspects who fled abroad and the recovery of stolen funds, a senior official said. Recovery Department Director General Abbas Mutab told the official gazette that roughly half of the suspects who previously fled Iraq have been extradited and that significant sums have been repatriated from overseas. Mutab said the commission is working closely with Interpol and other law enforcement bodies, but noted difficulties in securing extraditions from some countries. He attributed the challenges to differences in legal jurisdictions and to illicit funds being absorbed into other economies. Each case goes through evidence collection and tracking procedures before action is taken, according to Mutab. He said the commission will announce developments this year involving both large sums and suspects who fled years ago. Mutab added that the work is being carried out with the support of the head of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the president of the Supreme Judicial Council.