A sign outside Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity headquarters in Baghdad, which continues to lead investigations into corruption and property fraud across the country.
Nineveh
12 arrested for turning public land into ‘unauthorized’ paid parking lots
NINEVEH — Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity said Tuesday that 12 people have been arrested in Nineveh governorate for illegally seizing public land and converting it into private parking lots to collect unauthorized fees.
In a statement, the commission said its team from the Nineveh Investigation Directorate documented violations involving eight state-owned plots near the Traffic Directorate in the governorate center.
“The suspects used the properties as parking lots and collected money from citizens through illegal methods,” the commission said, adding that they acted without any formal authorization or permits.
The statement said the individuals exploited the land for personal gain “at the expense of public interest.” The suspects were referred to the judge overseeing integrity-related cases, who ordered their detention under the provisions of Law No. 154 of 2001, which governs the removal of encroachments on state and municipal properties.