Iraqi anti-corruption body says large network dismantled in Diwaniyah municipality

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity said a large corruption network inside the Diwaniyah municipality has been dismantled, with arrest and search warrants issued against roughly 30 people, including the current director of the municipality and five former directors. The commission said in a written statement that the investigation covers the directors along with six officials in accounting and audit, the current provincial accounting director and other employees, who face allegations of abusing tenders, bribery, embezzlement and causing public financial losses. According to the statement, the operation, carried out in coordination with the Eagle Cell intelligence unit, produced arrest warrants against 15 municipal employees and three contractors over alleged above-market purchases of materials and the use of forged or inflated invoices. Based on suspects' statements, warrants were also issued against five former directors and the current director; the current director and some former directors have been brought before the competent authorities, the commission said. Authorities seized payment documents totaling more than 9 billion Iraqi dinars, official seals from audit, accounting and procurement units, luxury vehicles and cash, according to the statement. The files have been referred to corruption investigation judges under the relevant provisions of the Penal Code, who ordered the suspects detained and barred some provincial council members from traveling abroad.