Latest news with #FederalCommissionofIntegrity
Iraqi News
27-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
The Cabinets hold the 21st regular session, decisions included
The Cabinet held the 21st regular session on Tuesday chaired by PM Muhammed S. Al-Sudani during which the latest developments and public affairs in the country were reviewed, along with several important files and issues. The Cabinet approved the recommendations of Diwani Order Committee No. 7 of 2025 concerning the violations documented in the investigation report of the Federal Commission of Integrity, dated July 4, 2024, related to the railway investment file and associated contracts, according to a statement by the PM's Media Office - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA. Based on the committee's findings, the Cabinet decided to dismiss the following officials for failing to fulfill their assigned duties: • Yaqoub Hussein Salem, Director General of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Transportation. • Abbas Nasser Majid, Director General of the Contracts and Licensing Department at the Ministry of Transportation. The report was also referred to the Federal Commission of Integrity to complete the legal procedures before the court. The Cabinet approved allowing the PM's Office to proceed with implementing the projects under Phase Two of the 'More Beautiful Baghdad' campaign, taking into account the comments presented during the session, which were approved by the Prime Minister. In the electricity sector, the Cabinet amended its Decision No. (346 of 2025), to approve contracting with the Turkish company as part of the Iraqi-Turkish power line 400 kV, for one year. The Ministry of Finance will provide the necessary allocations to ensure electricity supply to the northern region. The contract will be renegotiated after October 1, 2025, by a committee comprising representatives from the PM's Office, the Ministry of Electricity, and company KBR. The Cabinet also approved the continuation of solar energy projects, as follows: 1. Approval of the memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Electricity and UGT RENEWABLES to develop an integrated solar power project. The Ministries of Planning and Finance are to include the projects in line with national priorities and allocate the necessary funding. The Minister of Electricity was granted the required authority to proceed. 2. Approval of the Ministerial Council for Energy's recommendation regarding pricing and development costs for the 1000 MW Artawi Solar Power Plant project with TotalEnergies, as it is considered a strategic clean energy project. The Ministry of Oil is to fulfill its payment obligations under the signed power purchase agreements. The Director General of the State Company for Southern Electricity Production is authorized to sign the contract addendum with the French company. In the context of completing infrastructure and stalled projects, the Cabinet approved the following: 1. Increase the total cost for the Al-Husseiniya Concrete Bridge over the Tigris River project. 2. Increase the total cost and contingency amount for the two-way entrance of Al-Ahrar and Al-Ahrar Bridge project (Kut–Baghdad road). 3. Add a component for completing the Basra Provincial Council Building and increase the cost value of the main project. 4. Increase the total cost value for two Basra projects: infrastructure for 17 central districts, and rehabilitation of infrastructure in the Oil Housing area behind the Oil Cultural Center. 5. Increase the cost value of the Ninawa Ring Road Project and the Seventh Bridge. The Cabinet also reviewed border crossings and amended Decision No. (24187 of 2024), as modified by Decision No. (24266 of 2024), to exempt contracts related to Zurbatiya Border Crossing from procurement regulations, enabling the execution to proceed by transferring responsibilities from the main contractor to the subcontractor. The Cabinet approved a request by the Ministry of Health to lift the ban on importing electronic cigarettes, electronic hookahs, and tobacco products, subject to compliance with the Anti-Smoking Law (No. 19 of 2012). The Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control will issue relevant technical standards, the Iraqi Customs Authority will price these goods for customs duties, and commercial attachés abroad will authenticate certificates of origin and invoices for such goods for integration into the national system, thereby eliminating the need for secondary verification. Additional decisions made by the Cabinet include: 1. Amending Decision No. (245 of 2019) to authorize branch directors of the State Properties Department in the provinces to allocate Ministry of Finance-owned land and sign investment contracts after obtaining ministerial approval. 2. Approving the payment of $1 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) from the 2025 foreign contributions budget. In the field of international cooperation and peaceful nuclear energy, the Cabinet authorized the Chairman of the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission to negotiate and sign a draft cooperation agreement between Iraq and the Russian Federation on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, by the Constitution. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to prepare the necessary documents for approval by the Prime Minister.
Shafaq News
12-05-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Billion-dollar breach: Four arrested in Iraq's al-Rafidain bank theft
Shafaq News/ On Monday, four employees were arrested at al-Rafidain Bank branch in Diyala for illegally disbursing more than $1.53 billion from provincial government accounts, Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity revealed. The suspects, identified as cashiers and counter staff, issued 25 cheques without supporting documentation, enabling embezzlement by personnel in the pronvince's financial department, the Commission added. Notably, five provincial accountants were detained in April last year for embezzling $1.225B from the same branch. Authorities recovered roughly $460,000 in cash, along with gold, cheques, and property deeds. Al-Rafidain Bank, Iraq's largest state-run lender, has come under repeated scrutiny for internal control failures. It was previously linked to the 2022 'Theft of the Century,' involving $2.5B from the General Commission for Taxes, which prompted nationwide calls for reform.
Iraqi News
10-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
FCoI commissioner: We have provided privileges and protection for those cooperating in uncovering corruption cases
Baghdad-INA The head of the Federal Commission of Integrity (FcoI), Mohammed Ali al-Lami, confirmed on Saturday that the government has made anti-corruption efforts a top priority in its program, he noted that Iraq succeeded in recovering more than half a billion dollars in smuggled funds in 2024, noting that the commission has provided privileges and protection to those who cooperate in uncovering corruption cases. Al-Lami said in an interview with the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The Federal Integrity Commission enjoys support from the three branches of government," noting that "the government has placed (anti-corruption efforts) among the priorities of its curriculum and governmental program, which has been clearly reflected in the work of the commission; which has clearly contributed to accelerating the pace of work and the cooperation of state institutions in reducing corruption channels." He added that "the efforts of the government, the judiciary, and the supporting bodies supported the Commission's procedures to recover smuggled funds and provided fertile ground for cooperation with various countries around the world to overcome the difficulties facing these efforts, "he indicated that "the combination of national efforts led to Iraq's success in concluding many agreements, memoranda of understanding, and cooperation with many countries around the world where smuggled Iraqi funds and assets are located, or which were present before 2003, as an important and necessary step to recover them (and Iraq's success in recovering more than half a billion dollars of smuggled funds during the year 2024 is only a reflection of this cooperation, which will lead to greater successes in the near future)." Al-Lami pointed out that "the Commission's investigative work is a true embodiment of the principle of 'the accused is innocent until proven guilty,'" noting that "this commitment stems from the duties imposed by laws, human rights standards, the country's social nature, and its reputation in international forums, which we all strive to preserve; and to encourage investment opportunities and attract capital that supports reconstruction and development efforts, creates job opportunities, and reduces unemployment." He explained that "those following the Commission's recent activity clearly notice this through the Commission's keenness to refrain from publishing details of cases that are still under investigation and not to mention the explicit names of the accused in them," He explained that "the guarantees granted by law to the accused can provide clear evidence and help to reveal other accused in the cases that the Commission is considering without coercion or pressure. This is what the Commission follows during the investigation stages, which are under the direct supervision of the Integrity Judges." Al-Lami noted that 'the Authority's strategy for the next phase is based on working within the law and cooperating with everyone, in order to build a national environment that is resentful of corruption and openness to all state institutions to cooperate in reducing corruption paths, in the belief that this fateful battle requires concerted efforts and solidarity.' He stressed that 'the draft national strategy for the years (2025-2030) gave the private sector, civil society organizations, and international organizations an important role in implementation, in addition to state institutions, ministries, and its three authorities.' Regarding the challenges that may face the Commission's work during the next phase, the Commission's Chairman stressed his "true belief that any challenges that may face the Commission's work can be overcome and surmounted through the support that the Commission has received from the three authorities, the components of the people, and their national symbols."
Iraq Business
05-03-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
Iraq, Switzerland Discuss Efforts to Recover Smuggled Assets
By John Lee. Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity (COI) has called on United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) member states to enhance legal cooperation in recovering stolen assets and illicit funds. During a meeting with Swiss Ambassador Daniel Hunn, COI Chairman Dr. Mohammed Ali Al-Lami stressed Iraq's commitment to eradicating corruption and preventing capital flight, noting that recovered funds are essential for development and reconstruction projects. Al-Lami outlined Iraq's two-pronged approach to asset recovery: Pre-2003 misappropriations, including illicit gains from the Oil-for-Food Program, sanctions evasion, economic sabotage, and smuggling. Post-2003 corruption proceeds, acquired and transferred abroad by individuals engaged in fraud and embezzlement. Ambassador Hunn praised Iraq's reconstruction efforts and commitment to combating corruption, affirming Switzerland's readiness to cooperate in recovering stolen assets. He also acknowledged Iraq's understanding of Swiss legal requirements for asset restitution and confirmed that Swiss authorities are actively working with Iraq to facilitate the repatriation of funds. (Source: COI)
Iraqi News
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
FCOI ,the Spanish Embassy agree to accelerate the procedures for implementing MOU
Baghdad-INA The Federal Commission of Integrity (FCOI) announced today, Monday, its agreement with the Spanish Embassy to accelerate the procedures for implementing the memorandum of understanding(MOU). A statement by the Commission, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that "the Chairman of the Federal Integrity Commission, Mohammed Ali Al-Lami, announced the conclusion of the memorandum of understanding between the Commission and the Spanish Public Prosecution." While the Spanish Ambassador expressed her admiration for "the pioneering experience of the Iraqi Academy for Combating Corruption," and promised the arrival of Spanish experts to participate in the lectures there."
