Iraq’s Integrity Commission uncovers real estate fraud in Dhi Qar

DHI QAR – The Federal Integrity Commission announced on Monday the discovery of manipulations in real estate compensation pricing and allocation records in Dhi Qar governorate, amounting to 22 billion dinars [$16.6 million].

A report by the commission, received by 964media, revealed that Dhi Qar’s Real Estate Valuation Committee initially estimated the price of several properties at 5.2 billion dinars [$3.9 million] but later re-estimated the same properties at 27 billion dinars [$20.4 million]. This discrepancy highlighted significant differences in evaluations, indicating manipulation as confirmed by reports from the External Audit Division in Dhi Qar.

The commission also noted irregularities in the land allocation records for the Social Care Directorate employees in the governorate. Despite having only 28 actual beneficiaries, the directorate allocated 282 land plots. Further investigation uncovered manipulations in properties designated for the wounded and martyrs from the Popular Mobilization Forces. Employees at the Properties Department replaced 17 allocated properties with other property numbers without the beneficiaries’ knowledge or requests.

In a separate operation, the commission revealed a waste of 44.9 million dinars [$34,000] of public money at the Nasiriyah Municipality Directorate. This loss resulted from the price difference between the allocation and sale of a property in the Al-Shamiya area to a retiree beneficiary.

The anti-corruption operations, documented under judicial memos, were presented to the Dhi Qar Investigation Court’s judge for appropriate legal actions.