Iraqi electricity official says minister altered allocation document for Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — An official at Iraq's Ministry of Electricity has alleged that the minister personally altered a financial allocation document intended for Baghdad's electricity distribution company, replacing the capital's name with another region before approving it. Amir Adnan, head of the ministry's Economic Department, said the document was based on Council of Ministers Decision No. 24,485, which allocated 300 billion Iraqi dinars to the ministry. Adnan claimed that the original text referred to the Baghdad General Electricity Distribution Company, but that the minister struck out "Baghdad" and substituted "Wasit" before granting approval. According to Adnan, the document bore the signatures of the directors general of the departments of Investments and Contracts, Technical Affairs, and Economic Affairs, and that all procedures were completed with the minister's written endorsement. He said he acted under instructions from the minister, his direct superior, and that the payment was carried out in line with the ministry's approval. Adnan also indicated that the document was leaked by a member of parliament. No further details were immediately available.