Convicted of accepting bribes
Egypt extradites fugitive official to Iraq
BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Commission of Integrity announced on Thursday the extradition of a former official from Egypt, convicted of bribery during his time at the Ministry of Finance.
Fouad Makhlaf Ali Shahab, the official in question, faced charges of soliciting and accepting bribes while employed at the General Authority of Customs at the Shalamjah border crossing. “The fugitive had been convicted by the Iraqi judiciary, prompting the commission to prepare an extradition file based on his crimes,” the commission said in a statement.
Iraqi authorities issued arrest warrants and circulated bulletins through the General Prosecution Office, which then collaborated with Arab and International police agencies. This coordination led to the issuance of a red notice and a global search for Shahab, culminating in his capture in Egypt.
Following his arrest, the extradition process was facilitated through diplomatic channels involving the General Prosecution Office and Egyptian authorities.
The Basra Criminal Court, which specializes in integrity cases, examined the evidence against Shahab, including testimonies from the legal representative of the customs directorate and details of Shahab’s flight from justice. The court deemed the evidence sufficient to convict Shahab, sentencing him to six years in prison along with a fine.
This incident marks the sixth extradition by the commission in 2024 and the third in June alone, following other extraditions from Belarus, Malaysia, Egypt, and Turkey through the Kurdistan Region.