Maysan court orders arrests of electricity department officials on forgery charges

BAGHDAD, Iraq — An anti-corruption court in Iraq's Maysan province has issued arrest warrants against the head of the provincial electricity department and several staff members over alleged forgery in a state contract, court officials said. The Maysan Investigative Corruption Court issued the warrants under Article 341 of Iraq's amended Penal Code No. 1969 of 1969. Those named in the order include the department's branch director, his technical assistant, the heads of the planning, legal, accounting and financial audit divisions, a contracts unit employee and two other staff members. Security forces detained the deputy director and the heads of the legal and accounting divisions. The branch director was taken to Maysan Hospital's intensive care unit on health grounds and is being held under guard, according to court officials. The other suspects remain at large and search operations are ongoing. The investigating judge extended the detention of those in custody until the 18th of the month.