Sixty-one people were detained in an operation targeting a network accused of fraud in property transactions in Muthanna Governorate in southern Iraq. The operation was carried out on Friday as part of an investigation into fraud involving land records.
Iraq’s National Security Service said the network was uncovered following intelligence work and field surveillance. The agency described the operation as the largest fraud operation involving land records carried out in Muthanna.
More than 90 fraudulent property transactions identified
Those detained included public officials, lawyers and owners of offices involved in property sales and purchases. The case file identified more than 90 fraudulent property transactions linked to the investigation.
The irregular transactions caused approximately 2 billion Iraqi dinars, or about $1.5 million, in damage to public funds.
Corruption investigations continue in Iraq
The operation came as security and judicial investigations into suspected financial and administrative corruption continued in Iraq.
Some ongoing investigations are linked to the testimony of Adnan al-Jumaili, the former undersecretary for liquidation affairs at the Ministry of Oil, who was detained on suspicion of causing damage to public funds and concluding contracts in violation of the law. Al-Jumaili was detained after being dismissed on June 2.