Iraqi corruption court sentences former Saladin governor to 7 years in prison

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity said the Central Corruption Criminal Court has sentenced Ammar Jabir Khalil Abdulhameed, the former governor of Saladin province, to seven years in prison in absentia on corruption charges. The commission said the verdict was issued under the relevant articles of the Integrity Commission Law. Alongside the prison term, the court imposed a fine of 1.728 billion Iraqi dinars, equivalent to the amount of illicit gains attributed to the defendant. The court ruled that the former governor cannot be released after completing his sentence until the illicit gains are returned and the fine is paid. It also confirmed the seizure of movable and immovable assets held by the defendant and his wife, and ordered a precautionary seizure on assets belonging to his son. The commission said an arrest warrant has been issued for the defendant and that it reserves the right to file a separate lawsuit for damages once the verdict becomes final.