Karbala: Karbala Investigation Court announced on Tuesday the arrest of a network specializing in extortion and bribery, comprised of 10 employees of the Retirement and Social Security Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, including the department director, in addition to other defendants from non-governmental entities. According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Supreme Judicial Council stated in a press release that, under the direct supervision of the competent Karbala Investigation Court judge, investigations were launched against the defendants after their involvement in extorting business owners and shopkeepers was proven. Large sums of money, amounting to 3 billion dinars, were found in their possession, along with modern vehicles obtained illegally. The court also issued a decision to impose a precautionary seizure on a number of properties belonging to the defendants.