Shafaq News..Iraq returns $784K embezzlement fugitive from UAE

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq secured the return from the
United Arab Emirates of a fugitive convicted of embezzling more than 1.031
billion dinars (about $784,000) in public funds following an international
pursuit, the Federal Commission of Integrity announced on Wednesday.

The commission, Iraq’s
anti-corruption watchdog, identified the convict as Mohammed Ismat Mohammed
Saeed, a former cashier at the Trade Ministry’s Companies Registration Directorate
who embezzled the money by manipulating receipts and revenue records, recording
false amounts and taking the resulting differences.

The commission’s Extradition
Department submitted four files to the UAE, with subsequent coordination
involving Interpol Baghdad and other Iraqi and foreign authorities resulting in
an Interpol Red Notice, Saeed’s arrest and his return to Iraq for legal
proceedings.

Iraqi courts had previously issued
four rulings against Saeed under Article 315 of the Penal Code, imposing a
combined 55-year prison term and ordering the seizure of his movable and
immovable assets, while preserving the affected party’s right to seek
compensation through civil courts once the judgments become final.

Earlier today, a specialized
Interpol Baghdad team returned three other suspects wanted by the Iraqi
judiciary in cases related to corruption, murder and fraud for referral to the
relevant authorities.