Officials accused of illegally selling state lands arrested in Nineveh

NINEVEH — Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity announced Thursday the arrest of the head and members of the Housing Association for Employees of the Nineveh Agriculture Directorate for allegedly seizing state-owned properties, subdividing them, and selling them to citizens.

In an official statement, the commission said its investigation office in Nineveh formed a task team that visited the association “following reports of suspected corruption.”

The team found that the suspects had taken control of several government-owned lands and “sold them to citizens without obtaining official approvals, in violation of the law,” the statement read.

The statement added that the actions were carried out for “personal gain” and confirmed that an official seizure report was prepared. The operation was conducted under Article 340 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which concerns abuse of public office resulting in harm to state interests.

The suspects and seized items were referred to the investigative judge at the Nineveh Court responsible for integrity cases. The judge ordered the detention of the accused pending investigation.