Nasiriyah: The Federal Integrity Commission announced the issuance of a prison sentence in absentia against a former official in the Nasiriyah Municipality Directorate for committing bribery and manipulating land ownership, allocation, and sale transactions.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Commission stated in a press release that “the Dhi Qar Criminal Court issued a six-year prison sentence in absentia against the former head of the Property Division in the Nasiriyah Municipality Directorate in Dhi Qar Governorate, in accordance with the provisions of Resolution (160 of 1983), after he was found guilty of receiving bribes, manipulating land ownership, allocation, and sale transactions belonging to the Directorate, and forging deeds, blank documents and receipts, correspondence, and undertakings for the sale and transfer of residential plots by their owners, as well as other official documents.”

The Commission continued: “The verdict came after investigative procedures carried out by the staff of the Dhi Qar Investigation Office, which included searching the house belonging to the convicted individual – pursuant to a judicial order – and arresting him, in cooperation with the Dhi Qar Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Directorate. Hundreds of files, documents, and transactions belonging to the Nasiriyah Municipality Directorate and a number of citizens were seized from him, in addition to blank and forged receipts and documents related to the ownership, allocation, and sale of land plots in violation of regulations.”

The Commission added: “After reviewing the evidence and proofs in the case and the convicted individual’s confessions, the court was fully convinced of his guilt and issued its verdict convicting him and sentencing him in absentia to six years imprisonment, according to the provisions of Resolution (160 of 1983).”