Report: Corruption Investigations in Iraq Stopped in Their Tracks

[babylonsister]

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

Report: Corruption Investigations in Iraq Stopped in Their Tracks

April 30, 2007 12:01 AM

Maddy Sauer Reports:

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.

One of the cases, which has been referred to the prime minister's office, involves eight ministers and 40 directors general who are accused of mismanaging $8 billion.

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[leftchick]

1. pouring money down a hole

this corruption investigation should be a benchmark. But it won't be.

[Joe Fields]

2. foxes guarding the chicken coop.