On October 15 a warrant was issued for the head of the anti-corruption Integrity Commission Judge Hanoun. Reportedly there is a recording of him talking about taking bribes. This is the latest controversy between the Integrity Commission and the judiciary.
Things started in early September when Hanoon made accusations against a judge. On September 4 the Integrity Commission leader gave a press conference in Irbil about the $2.5 billion Theft of the Century. Hanoun said that documents on the case had disappeared and accused Judge Diaa Jaafar of working with the main suspect in the scandal Nour Zuhair giving him bail which allowed him to flee Iraq and escape justice. The courts denied these charges and said that action would be taken against Hanoun.
Shortly afterwards recordings were posted on social media allegedly of Judge Hanoun talking about bribes and being involved in illegal land deals in his home province of Maysan. It’s those tapes that are probably the basis for the new warrant.
Iraq is one of the most corrupt countries in the world with all parts of the government involved. When Nour Zuhair was arrested for the Theft of the Century he threatened to expose powerful people involved. That’s likely members of the ruling Coordination Framework as a politician from that list implied. Given that situation Judge Jaafar could very well have allowed Zuhair to escape Iraq so more revelations couldn’t be made. At the same time Judge Hanoun might be involved in bribery. In Iraq few officials are innocent and these disputes are simply about one part of the kleptocracy going after another.
SOURCES
Al Aalem, “After Hanoun’s “scandalous” conference, Zuhair puts everyone to the test,” 9/5/24
- “Judge Hanoun announces the start of the real battle and reveals shocking secrets about the Deal of the Century,” 9/4/24
Bas News, “Iraq Issues Arrest Warrant for Head of Corruption Commission,” 10/15/24
Al Hurra, “Investigation into the head of the Iraqi Integrity Commission .. regarding a plot of land,” 9/17/24
Al Rafidain, “Representative for the Coordination Framework: We fear “the ruin of the political process” by revealing the names of those involved in the theft of the century,” 8/4/24
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