A view of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council meeting on Monday
Media Monitor
Iraq’s judiciary refutes Integrity Commission chair’s allegations, launches bribery investigation
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council on Monday refuted allegations made by Integrity Commission Chair Haidar Hanoun during a recent conference in Erbil, calling them “false” and an attempt to “mislead” public opinion. The council suggested that Hanoun’s remarks were a reaction to legal action taken against him over a land plot allocated to the Real Estate Registration Department in Maysan.
In its statement, the council also expressed gratitude to Judge Diaa Jaafar, one of the officials accused by Hanoun, for his “outstanding efforts in carrying out his assigned duties.”
On Wednesday, judicial authorities announced an investigation into Hanoun over alleged audio recordings linked to suspected bribery. During the Erbil conference, Hanoun defended his ownership of two plots of land in southern Iraq.
Full statement from the Supreme Judicial Council media office read:
The Supreme Judicial Council held its tenth session on the morning of Monday, September 16, 2024, presided over by the President of the Federal Court of Cassation, Judge Dr. Faiq Zidan. During the session, a number of judges and public prosecutors were promoted, and organizational changes in some appellate courts were approved based on the proposal submitted by the appellate courts’ presidency. Additionally, the council approved the secondment of several judges and public prosecutors in accordance with the requirements of the public interest.
The council also approved the reformation of the joint judicial committee between the Supreme Judicial Council and the Kurdistan Regional Judicial Council to find solutions to issues related to joint judicial work. The council discussed the statements made by the acting Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Haidar Hanoun, during the press conference held at the Integrity Commission on July 1, 2024, and the press conference held in Erbil on September 4, 2024.
It was clarified, through the report of the Chief of Judicial Supervision, who investigated all matters raised in the press conference in Erbil, that these were merely false allegations intended to mislead public opinion. These were a reaction to the legal actions taken against him regarding a plot of land allocated to the Real Estate Registration Department in Maysan.
Given the offenses directed at the judiciary, the council decided to refer the matter to the Third Karkh Investigation Court to take legal action against him. The council also decided to extend its thanks and appreciation, in the name of the Supreme Judicial Council, to Mr. Diaa Jafaar Lafta, the Chief Judge of the Second Karkh Investigation Court, for his outstanding efforts in carrying out the tasks assigned to him.
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