Municipality revenue chief, five collectors arrested in Amarah embezzlement case

MAYSAN — Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity announced Thursday the arrest of the head of the revenue division at Amarah Municipality and five municipal fee collectors on charges of embezzling public funds.

In a statement, the commission said the suspects were detained for “unlawfully obtaining money for their personal benefit” through unauthorized collections in city parking areas.

A team from the Maysan Investigation Office carried out the arrests after receiving reports of illegal fee collection. The operation targeted vehicle parking lots along Dijlah Street, a major road in Amarah, where the revenue chief and five collectors were allegedly charging daily fees to about 250 vehicles without issuing official receipts.

“The funds were seized and not delivered to the municipality as official revenues,” the commission said, adding that the individuals were operating outside official municipal procedures.

The suspects were referred to an investigative judge specializing in integrity cases. The court ordered their detention and issued additional arrest warrants for other municipal staff linked to the case.