Three detained in corruption probe targeting Nasiriyah municipality

DHI QAR, Iraq — Security forces in Iraq's Dhi Qar province have detained three suspects as part of a corruption investigation into the Nasiriyah municipality, a local source at the provincial governorate said. One of those detained, described as a senior official at the municipality, was apprehended while attempting to flee to Iran through the Shalamjah border crossing. The other two suspects were found hiding at a coffeehouse outside the city center. The three were among individuals sought on charges of causing substantial harm to public property. On Tuesday, four municipal employees had been detained by the Commission on Public Integrity in connection with the same case. Earlier, the Nasiriyah Corruption Investigation Court issued arrest warrants for eight municipal personnel, and the probe was later expanded to include land registry clerks and intermediaries. The detentions come after Dhi Qar Governor Haitham al-Hamdani took over the administration of the Nasiriyah municipality, following which a series of dismissals and administrative changes were carried out. The local government has backed the judiciary and the Commission on Public Integrity in pursuing the corruption files.