The integrity commission: MP Hassanein al-Khafaji has been sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Integrity Commission announced that the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court issued a ruling against MP Hassanein al-Khafaji for extorting the complainant, Mustafa Fa’al Mushtat, demanding $500,000 from him.

The Commission’s statement elaborated that the ruling involved registering 40% of the Hawraa Baghdad residential project in al-Khafaji’s name, under the guise of one of his office employees. This was in exchange for his promise to intervene in procedures related to the work of the Supreme Judicial Council and the Federal Integrity Commission to close the money laundering case and lift the freeze on the complainant’s assets. Al-Khafaji also allegedly intervened with the Baghdad Investment Commission to resume work on the Jawharat Baghdad residential project without any legal authority or power.

The Commission noted that the court’s conviction was based on a variety of evidence, including the confession of the other defendant, Anwar Sabah Abdul Sadiq, transcripts of recordings, witness testimonies, and a copy of the signed contract, all of which corroborated the established facts of the case.

The Commission explained that the court, after reviewing the evidence and proofs in the case, found them sufficient and convincing for conviction. Consequently, it issued its ruling sentencing the defendant to two years’ imprisonment, based on the provisions of Article (452/1) of the Iraqi Penal Code.