Iraqi anti-corruption body detains 8 in Maysan over unauthorized document processing

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity said it detained eight people, including a government employee, during five separate operations carried out on Monday across multiple state offices in Maysan province. The commission's field teams, operating under the Maysan Investigation Office, conducted the raids at the Agriculture Directorate, the Land Registry Directorate, the Traffic Registration Complex and a branch of the Tax Authority, according to a statement from the body. Investigators said some of the suspects had been processing transactions on behalf of others without legal power of attorney or official authorization. Authorities seized official documents, powers of attorney and files that bore no entry or exit records, the commission added. At the Land Registry Directorate, officials found that the same property had been unlawfully registered under two different names. Investigators also identified a missing property file and said they were working to determine those responsible. A judge at the Maysan Corruption Investigation Court ordered the detention of several suspects under Articles 240 and 331 of the Iraqi Penal Code, the commission said. No further details on the suspects or the next stage of proceedings were immediately available.