Iraqi anti-corruption body says wealth growth above 20% triggers investigation

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A representative of Iraq's Federal Integrity Commission in Anbar said national law allows officials' declared assets to be investigated if their wealth grows by more than 20% in a year. Alaa Halef, the head of the commission's Anbar investigation office, said asset declaration forms cover the official, their spouse and dependents, and that the institution compares the figures annually to track changes in wealth. Halef said any increase exceeding the legal threshold requires an investigation into the asset holder unless they can prove the funds were obtained legitimately. He added that some properties are registered in the names of third parties to conceal their real owners, and that the commission has identified and pursued legal action against such arrangements in at least one case. He cited the case of former Prime Minister Adnan al-Jalili, in which the commission used the same method to determine that real estate belonged to him despite being registered under other names, leading to a confiscation ruling. The remarks were made at a workshop in Anbar on implementing the asset disclosure law, organized by the Anbar Human Rights Commission in cooperation with the Integrity Commission and the provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports.