Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi on Friday reaffirmed the government's commitment to continuing its efforts to pursue corrupt officials, bring them before the judiciary, and recover public funds.
Speaking during a meeting with senior security and oversight officials, al-Zaidi said the government is moving ahead with implementing its reform program in line with its ministerial agenda on combating and preventing corruption, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi government.
He called for closer coordination between oversight bodies and law enforcement agencies to track down and apprehend those responsible for corruption crimes, recover public funds, and strengthen preventive measures. He said the efforts should cover all government sectors without exception to ensure greater coordination and effectiveness.
Al-Zaidi also urged authorities to intensify efforts to combat drug trafficking, stressing the need for effective measures to protect society, prevent the spread of narcotics, and maintain security and stability.
He said fighting corruption is a shared national responsibility that requires coordination among security, oversight, and judicial institutions. He also called for adopting the highest standards of integrity and transparency, intensifying intelligence and oversight efforts to pursue corruption and economic crime networks, and ensuring the implementation of relevant government decisions.
The prime minister also called for expediting investigations into cases involving public funds and ensuring that the law is applied equally to everyone without discrimination.
According to the government statement, participants reviewed the country's overall security and economic situation and discussed government measures to combat corruption, as well as mechanisms to strengthen coordination among the relevant institutions to improve the protection of public funds and enforcement of the law.
The Iraqi government has launched what it describes as its largest anti-corruption campaign, carrying out arrests under judicial warrants targeting current and former parliamentary leaders and lawmakers, as well as senior officials in the oil sector accused of involvement in financial corruption cases. Authorities have also seized billions of Iraqi dinars, millions of US dollars, and large quantities of gold jewelry allegedly hidden in homes and farms.
