Iraqi anti-corruption body arrests education ministry employee for bribery in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Federal Integrity Commission said an employee of the Ministry of Education was caught red-handed taking a bribe in Baghdad. The commission said the arrest followed technical surveillance and a sting operation conducted by its Baghdad Investigation Directorate. According to the statement, the employee, who worked at the Karkh Second Education Directorate, was detained while accepting money in exchange for completing a master's degree equivalency procedure for a citizen. Records were prepared and the suspect was referred to the competent court. The Rusafa Investigation Court's judge handling corruption, money laundering and economic crimes ordered the employee's detention. The commission said the decision was carried out under the provisions of amended Ordinance No. 160, with evidence gathered during the investigation submitted to the judiciary. The commission added that its anti-corruption inspections would continue as part of its ongoing oversight work. No further details on the case were immediately available.