Iraq: Millions of dollars and gold bars found in the home of the former deputy minister of electricity
The Federal Integrity Commission in Iraq announced the seizure of large sums of money equivalent to $7 million, gold bars, and quantities of gold from residences belonging to Khaled Ghazay Atiya, the Deputy Minister of Electricity for Transmission and Distribution, in accordance with judicial orders issued by Investigating Judge Diaa Jafar of the Central Court of Criminals for Combating Corruption.
In a statement on Sunday, the Commission said that a team from the Baghdad Investigation Directorate carried out the seizure operation based on a judicial warrant, following intensive follow-up, investigation, and inquiry efforts that led to the discovery of money and valuable items in several homes belonging to the suspect, who had previously been subject to an arrest warrant executed by the Commission’s staff in connection with cases involving corruption and illicit enrichment.
The Commission added that the seized local currency amounted to approximately $904,000 (1.175 billion Iraqi dinars), in addition to $5.8 million in US dollars, as well as seven gold bars and gold jewelry.
The operation is part of the measures taken by the Integrity Commission to pursue suspects in financial corruption cases and uncover assets and properties suspected of being acquired through illegal means.
In a separate file concerning the collection of weapons, the Ministry of Interior confirmed on Saturday evening that more than 600 tribal sheikhs affirmed their cooperation in registering the weapons of their tribe members. The Al-Rusafa side of Baghdad recorded the highest registration percentages.
Major General Miqdad Miri, head of the Relations and Media Department at the Ministry of Interior, stated that there was a broad response from tribal sheikhs to the weapon inventory file, noting that more than 600 sheikhs opened their majlis (reception halls) and cooperated with ministry detachments to register the weapons of their tribe members. He clarified that the Al-Rusafa area in the capital, Baghdad, recorded the highest percentage of registrations due to its high population density and geographical area.
Miri added that the government’s direction is clear and politically and security-wise determined that all weapons in the country must be under the authority of the state and its security apparatus, pointing out that organizational processes and the implementation of the political agreement on this matter will officially begin after September 30 next year.
In a separate development, a well-informed security source announced the issuance of orders to transfer and assign several leaders and officers in the Ministry of Interior and the Federal Police Command, as part of a functional rotation and the infusion of new blood into security positions.
The source told Al-Sumaria News that the transfers included Lieutenant General Ahmed Al-Asadi, who was moved from his position as Commander of the Samarra Area in the Federal Police to the post of Ministry of Interior Representative in the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Lieutenant General Fadhil Al-Khazraji was transferred from his position as Commander of the Law Enforcement Command to Commander of the Second Federal Police Division, while Brigadier General Murtada was transferred from his position as Commander of the Second Mechanized Brigade to Commander of the Fifth Federal Police Division.
