Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity announced that three suspects were apprehended in two separate operations in Kirkuk province over alleged pension fraud, extortion, and bribery.
In a statement, the commission said the first operation uncovered suspected manipulation of pension records at the National Retirement Authority’s Kirkuk office. The irregularities involved the unlawful payment of pension salaries and accumulated financial entitlements, allegedly facilitated through cooperation between certain employees, lawyers, and transaction intermediaries.
Two suspects were arrested in connection with the alleged tampering with pension files and the unlawful appropriation of more than IQD 84 million in accumulated pension payments belonging to a female citizen.
In a separate operation, an investigative team arrested a member of the Kirkuk Police Command assigned to the police transfers department while he was allegedly receiving a bribe as an intermediary. The case involved the alleged extortion of a detainee, who was pressured to pay money in exchange for a transfer to another detention location.
The commission added that the judge of the Kirkuk Investigative Court specializing in integrity cases ordered the detention of the suspects under Articles 289 and 298 of the Penal Code and amended Resolution No. 160 of 1983.
