Kirkuk municipal official arrested after allegedly being caught taking bribe

KIRKUK — Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity announced Monday that a former official from the Kirkuk Municipality’s violations division was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe from a local shop owner.

According to the commission, the suspect had demanded 2.5 million Iraqi dinars (approximately $1,797) from the owner of a fish shop. Officials said the bribe followed alleged extortion attempts.

“A team was formed at the Kirkuk Investigation Office to verify the information,” the statement said. “An operation was set up in cooperation with the provincial security unit, and the suspect was caught in the act receiving the first installment of the agreed sum.”

The suspect had previously worked in the fifth municipal sector and was accused of “blackmailing a citizen and demanding a bribe,” the commission added.

He was referred to the judge of the Kirkuk Investigative Court specializing in integrity cases, who ordered his detention pending further legal action.