Integrity Comm head Judge Hanoun's Irbil press conference where he attacked another judge for covering up corruption and was later forced to resign in retaliation (Al Aalem)
On October 23 Prime Minister
Mohammed al-Sudani named Mohammed Ali al-Lami the new head of the
anti-corruption Integrity Commission. This was after the former head Judge
Haidar Hanoun resigned in a cloud of controversy after attacking another judge
and having bribery charges leveled against him.
At the start of September Judge Hanoun gave a press conference in Irbil about the $2.5 billion Theft of the Century. He accused Judge Dia Jaafar of the Karkh Investigative Court in Baghdad of allowing Nour Zuhair the most prominent person arrested in the Theft of the Century to flee Iraq by giving him bail. Hanoun also said that important documents had gone missing and that Jaafar was going after him.
Immediately afterwards the Judicial Supervision Authority denounced Hanoun’s accusations and said that action would be taken against him for illegal land deals in his home province of Maysan. Recordings were then posted on social media allegedly of Hanoun talking about taking bribes. That was followed by a warrant for Hanoun issued in October. That forced Hanoun to resign.
Al Mada reported that all of the Integrity Commission heads have left office under a cloud. The 1st commission head Judge Radhi al-Radhi fled Iraq in 2007 fearing Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was targeting him. His successor Judge Musa Faraj only lasted one year before he resigned without a clear reason. Next was Hassan al-Yasiri who quit saying he was tired of all the corruption in Iraq. Rahim al-Akeili was removed and later sentenced to 7 years in absentia for corruption. Judge Tawfiq Ezzat was killed in a car accident many believed was an assassination because he was about to unveil some major cases. Alaa al-Saadi quit after a smear campaign was launched against him. Hanoun replaced him.
The Integrity Commission was created by the Coalition Provisional Authority to be the main organization combating corruption in Iraq. It was never given the powers to successfully conduct that task. That’s because the Iraqi elite use theft and graft to rule the country and enrich themselves. They would never accept any interference in their business. Ironically Judge Hanoun could very well be involved in taking bribes as few high officials in the country are clean.
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
- “Iraqi PM Approves Dismissal of Integrity Chief Amid Bribery Allegations,” 10/23/24
Al Hurra, “Investigation into the head of the Iraqi Integrity Commission .. regarding a plot of land,” 9/17/24
- “Iraq: New head of the integrity Commission to replace judge accused of receiving bribes,” 10/24/24
Al Mada, “Mysterious endings for the 6 Integrity Commission presidents … and President No.7 joins the list of those forcibly removed!” 10/24/24
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