In a new development within efforts to combat corruption in Iraq, the Iraqi judiciary issued 10-year prison sentences against two female members of parliament, in two separate cases related to illicit gain and concealment of financial information, while requiring them to return huge sums of money and fines.
The Federal Integrity Commission reported that the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court issued a 10-year prison sentence against Representative Alia Nassif Jassim, after she was convicted of illicit gain and failure to disclose accurate financial information in the financial disclosure form.
The authority explained that the court obligated Nassif to return an amount of 46.5 million US dollars (equivalent to more than 61 billion Iraqi dinars), representing the value of the illegal gain and the financial fine imposed. The decision also included applying the harshest penalty against her, supporting the seizure of her movable and immovable assets, as well as granting the Integrity Commission the right to demand compensation for damages after the decision became final.
In a related context, the court issued another ruling requiring 10 years’ imprisonment against Representative Ashwaq Salem Hassan, based on the provisions of the Integrity and Illicit Gain Commission Law.
The court ruled to oblige Salem to return the value of the illegal gain and impose a fine amounting to approximately 9 million US dollars (equivalent to approximately 12 billion Iraqi dinars), applying the most severe penalty, upholding the seizure of its movable and immovable assets, and allowing the Integrity Commission to demand the necessary compensation after the decision cut off its judicial levels.
These judicial rulings fall within the process of ongoing measures announced by the Integrity Commission to prosecute those involved in financial corruption cases, and to detect and track funds and property suspected of being obtained illegally.
