SULAIMANI (ESTA) — More than 11,600 Iraqi officials including former ministers were investigated over alleged corruption in 2021, Iraq’s commission of integrity said on Wednesday.
The Iraqi commission of integrity said in its annual report that it conducted probes into 11,659 officials over 15,290 alleged incidents.
It further said only 632 officials including a minister were convicted despite the high numbers of people investigated.
“Among the defendants were 54 ministers facing 101 charges, in addition to 422 defendants of special ranks and general managers who are facing 712 charges of corruption,” the integrity commission said in the report.
In some cases, ministers who have been convicted were sentenced on charges that date back years.
On February 14, former minister of construction, housing, municipalities and public works Riad al-Gharib was sentenced to two years in prison for alleged misuse of public funds in 2007.
The commission of integrity further said 42 judgments against 32 high-ranking people in government including those who are general managers were also made.
Of those convicted 224 officials were tried in their absence, according to the report.
It has also opened 116 cases against convicted officials abroad, including six ministers.
Iraq is plagued by corruption which has eaten up more than 410 billion euros ($474 billion) since 2003, according to official figures. In May 2021, Iraqi President Barham Salih said nearly $150 billion was smuggled abroad from corrupt deals since 2003.
