Over financial irregularities
MP files complaint against Central Bank Governor
BASRA – A parliamentary investigation committee submitted a complaint to the public prosecutor on Wednesday against the Central Bank Governor Ali Al-Allaq for lack of cooperation in addressing financial irregularities involving Hadeel Abdul Salem, manager of Al-Ataa Bank’s Basra branch.
Saud Al-Saedi, head of the parliamentary committee investigating Basra government violations, lodged the complaint against Al-Allaq, accusing him of overlooking 3,000 guarantee letters issued by Abdul Salem for Basra projects in violation of the law. The complaint also targets the Central Bank’s banking supervision department for non-cooperation with the legislative authority and the investigative committee regarding the financial violations committed by Abdul Salem.
Abdul Salem allegedly issued guarantee letters for projects in Basra without proper documentation or guarantees, despite the Central Bank’s oversight. Al-Saedi said the Central Bank had acknowledged violations at Al-Ataa Bank in letters to him but failed to take legal and financial actions or intervene in the criminal case against Abdul Salem.
Al-Saedi claimed that in a response to a previous letter, the Central Bank stated that all documents were locked in a secure vault at Al-Ataa Bank and were inaccessible due to a branch employee’s actions.
Central Bank or Al-Atta Bank officials have not yet responded publicly to Al-Saedi’s accusations.
Al-Allaq has recently faced pressure, with some MPs seeking his removal due to reaching the retirement age. In response to the MPs’ inquiry, Iraq’s State Council issued a decision on August 6 stating that Al-Allaq is subject to the mandatory retirement age as stipulated in Retirement Law No. 9 of 2014.
Corruption unearthed in 11 billion dinar Basra lighting project
