National security service arrests civil servants, agents for bribery

BAGHDAD — The National Security Service said Tuesday it has arrested government employees and agents accused of taking bribes to process citizens’ transactions in the provinces of Diyala, Kirkuk, Nineveh, and Al-Qadisiyah.

A statement from the service, obtained by 964media, said, “Based on confirmed intelligence information and after obtaining judicial approvals, our teams in Diyala province arrested a government employee on bribery charges. The individual allegedly received money from citizens in exchange for completing their transactions and was caught red-handed receiving money from an applicant.”

The statement also said, “Our service managed to arrest government employees in the provinces of Kirkuk, Nineveh, and Al-Qadisiyah. One was allegedly processing unorthodox transactions at the Tax Directorate for money, and another was accused of extorting a citizen for money in exchange for a clearance certificate from a complainant. In addition, agents were arrested on charges of taking money to expedite interview processes in one of the departments.”

The suspects and the seized evidence have been referred to the competent judicial authorities for further legal action in accordance with the law.