Two more detained in Diyala health directorate corruption probe

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Two employees at the Diyala Health Directorate were detained on Tuesday as part of an ongoing corruption investigation, bringing the total number of detentions at the office to 12, a source familiar with the case said. The operation follows detentions carried out on Thursday, according to the source. Among those previously held are doctors, department heads and other staff at the directorate. Six people, including several known doctors and department heads, had been arrested on July 9 over alleged irregularities in medical commission reports. Investigators found that a network of employees and doctors had been taking bribes to raise disability ratings of government employees applying for retirement from the 30 percent range to above 50 percent, the source said, using intermediaries to arrange the transactions. Earlier in the week, a private security unit detained three additional directorate staff members on charges of financial and administrative corruption and bribery, according to reports.