Economy News – Baghdad
On Saturday, the Federal Integrity Commission outlined the recent conviction of the former Director of Planning and Follow-up in the Kirkuk Governorate. This decision followed an appeal made by the Commission aimed at addressing issues of judicial oversight.
According to a statement from the commission, the Kirkuk Misdemeanor Court issued an absence ruling against Ali Muhammad Ahmed Bayrakdar, the former Director of Planning and Follow-up. The court sentenced him to a term of imprisonment amounting to two years and six months for willfully violating the responsibilities of his position to obtain unauthorized benefits at the state’s expense. The Kirkuk Court of Appeal supported the Commission’s appeal, determining that the initial punishment did not adequately reflect the severity of the offence.
The court’s ruling was influenced by findings related to financial misconduct concerning the allocation of budgetary funds designated for the establishment of a customs protection headquarters. This funding, meant for the reconstruction of areas impacted by terrorism, was disbursed without the necessary approvals, demonstrating a clear deviation from legal protocols. Moreover, it was noted that there was an administrative order issued to facilitate funding for the project, effectively benefiting the contracting companies at the cost of public resources.
The Commission further clarified that the court’s absentia ruling imposed a harsher penalty of two years and six months in accordance with Article 331 of the Penal Code, superseding the previous sentence of simple imprisonment for one year. Furthermore, on (2024/25), the Kirkuk Criminal Court – the second body ruled to extend the imprisonment term to a total of seven years, pursuant to Article 340 of the Penal Code. This ruling was based on provisions relating to the intentional destruction of state property, particularly involving financial payments allocated to a company responsible for the design of the new Kirkuk Governorate building.
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