Report: Corruption Investigations in Iraq Stopped in Their Tracks

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News

Investigations into government corruption in Iraq are being stopped in their tracks due to an antiquated law that has been reinstated by the prime minister, according to a report to be released today by the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.

The report says that corruption in Iraq is a "major impediment to Iraq's development and growth." The special inspector general estimates that more than $5 billion a year of Iraqi government funds are diverted due to corruption and charges that some in the Iraqi government have been hindering ongoing investigations.

A large part of the problem, according to the report, is that Iraq's prime minister's office is using a law dating back to the 1970s to stop ongoing investigations in their tracks. The law says that no case can go forward without the approval of the minister of the affected agency. So far, the report says that various agency ministers have stopped the prosecution and investigation of 102 individuals involved in 48 cases.

The prime minister's office has also ordered that any case involving a minister or former minister must have the approval of the prime minister before it can be recommended to an investigative court.



Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/04/report_corrupti.html

[sinkingfeeling]

1. What, didn't Bremer outlaw all existing laws in Iraq as part of his 100 greatest things

America has done for Iraq?

[acmavm]

2. Looks like the Iraqi people got one hell of a government in that

there election, doesn't it?

Let freedom reign and let the crooks rape the American taxpayer from now until hell freezes over.

:sarcasm:

[maddezmom]

3. another link from 4/5 Iraq fraud fighter faces threats, blocked probes

Iraq fraud fighter faces threats, blocked probes
Source: Associated Press

Iraq fraud fighter faces threats, blocked probes
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 04.05.2007
advertisementBAGHDAD — Iraq's top corruption fighter said Wednesday that $8 billion in government money was wasted or stolen over the past three years and claimed he was threatened with death after opening an investigation into scores of Oil Ministry employees.

In the lawlessness of Iraq, such threats are not taken lightly. Radi al-Radhi, who runs the Public Integrity Commission, leads one of the more dangerous missions in the country. He told The Associated Press that 20 members of the organization have been murdered since its inception.

In one recent case, an estimated $2 billion disappeared from funds to rebuild the electricity infrastructure. Former Electricity Minister Ayham al-Samaraie, who holds both U.S. and Iraqi citizenship, was convicted in that case and sentenced to two years in prison.

~snip~

On Wednesday, he took the matter to Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who promised to back his efforts, al-Radhi said. Al-Mashhadani's office said the parliament speaker promised to support the anti-corruption move.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2795131

[IWantAChange]

4. I'll bet Bushco is jealous we dont have that rule here....

[katmondoo]

5. I thought we had that rule!!

[Igel]

6. Yeah, but the guy in charge of the anti-corruption commission

has ... wait for it ... been accused of corruption.

Hitting political and personal enemies with in-depth corruption investigations unless they make him happy, not targeting people that are in his party or support what he supports.

Hard to sort out the charges and counter-charges. So I don't.

I merely assume that it's a cultural trait and comes with the dialect.

[TexasLawyer]

7. FUBAR

It keeps getting worse and worse.

[jmc247]

8. Iraq using Saddam-era law to block corruption probes: audit

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The office of Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has used a Saddam Hussein-era law to halt dozens of corruption-related probes of government ministries, a US auditor's report said Monday.

The report by the special inspector general for Iraq, Stuart Bowen, said Iraq's Commission on Public Integrity (CPI) estimates the cost of corruption at around five billion dollars a year.

The law, Article 136B of the Iraqi Criminal Procedure Code, had been suspended by the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority that ran Iraq before the restoration of sovereignty. It was reinstated by the prime minister, the report said.

A review of corruption-related cases by the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office "showed that ministers have stopped prosecution and investigations on 48 cases involving 102 individuals under Article 136B."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070430/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqauditcorruption_070430200721

[rodeodance]

9. what next??

[ClayZ]

10. Spreading freedom! (sarcasm) K and R

[HCE SuiGeneris]

11. They must be modeling their behavior on our oh so effective system...

x(

[Toots]

12. I thought they had a brand new government with a brand new Constitution

Why would they be following some old Law from some old government? :shrug: