Hilla: The Federal Integrity Commission has announced a three-year prison sentence in absentia for a man accused of impersonating an official and extorting money from a citizen by falsely claiming he could close an investigation concerning the citizen’s mother.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Hilla Misdemeanor Court handed down the sentence after the accused deceived a citizen into believing that there was a case against his mother. The man falsely claimed to be associated with an oversight committee and asserted that he had the power to influence the investigation to close the case. He obtained money from the citizen under the pretense of passing it to an investigator and falsely promised to close the case. It was later revealed that the citizen’s mother was not a party to the case but merely a witness.

The Commission’s statement highlighted that after examining the evidence, testimonies, and statements from the complainant and witnesses, the court determined the defendant’s guilt. The sentence was issued under Article (1/312) of the Penal Code, and the complainant was granted the right to seek compensation in civil courts.

The Commission has previously cautioned against individuals exploiting its efforts to combat corruption through impersonation and extortion. It emphasized that all its operations adhere to legal and judicial procedures. The public and institutions are urged not to respond to individuals claiming affiliation with the Commission through unofficial channels and are encouraged to report such instances using the Commission’s toll-free number (154).