Iraqi parliament debates reveal poor recovery of funds smuggled abroad File Management

Iraqi parliament debates reveal poor recovery of funds smuggled abroad File Management

Mustafa al-Obeidi

February 23, 2016

Baghdad «Quds Al-Arabi»: the Iraqi parliament discussed the important issue is the reconstruction of Iraq funds contraband, attended by representatives from a number of ministries and the security of banking and the concerned authorities and the judiciary, and in conjunction with a severe financial crisis experienced by the Iraqi government.

The Council heard during the hearing that I followed «Quds Al-Arabi» to the reports of the relevant committees on the issue of Iraqi funds smuggling, while Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jubouri, stressed that «the Council considers that display a special session to discuss the recovery of the looted money to the people as part of his commitment and responsibility in addressing the sensitive subject and it is important, noting that the current session are just beginning to open up an important and dangerous file for the detection of stolen money ».

He said Ezzat Tawfiq, deputy head of the integrity Commission that« the issue of recovery of stolen funds is complicated and thorny, noting that the legal system and laws on accountability and justice and fairness which are some obstacles in the recovery of the former regime of funds abroad. »

He added that« the integrity Commission relies steps in coordination with the Foreign Ministry after the file is complete to then be piped to the State concerned », explaining that the main problem is the lack of information and poor coordination with the concerned authorities to keep track of the money and consolidate efforts on the looted money abroad», revealing the existence of 37 files ready for the integrity Commission for money diverted in some countries that do not cooperate with Iraq to return the money.

He said Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance Fadel Prophet said «the ministry contacted several third parties, without getting any information, also presented a proposed law in this regard It is waiting for legislation before the House of Representatives ».

on the other hand pointed Salah Khalaf Nuri president of BSA that« the problem lies in the commission given to the views of assistance in the recovery of funds ».

He Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry that« track smuggled money falls within the jurisdiction of the Department of legal Affairs », alluding to the problem of the lack of diplomatic representation in some countries where the accused, so be coordinated with international parties».

the Governor of the Central Bank on the Keywords, he noted that «the Central Bank's role is limited to providing information on the subject», stressing the need to conclude memorandums of understanding with countries around the world to exchange information and recovery of funds and people ».

I admit that« the central bank over the past years has not been given much attention to this subject because there obstacle is not to control the movement of funds after conversion out of Iraq, also pled not activate reporting Office money laundering in the Central Bank of Iraq ».

within the context, she pointed out, Judge Hana Ali Fayyad, a member of the public prosecutor and a representative of the Supreme Judicial Council to« public prosecutor to follow up and recovery of smuggled money and regulate the money files, and issue decisions, placing them in countries where there are the accused persons have been sentenced reserve funds and people involved with corruption and to send those provisions states Almujdan them. »

He said the integrity Commission, the parliamentary report said« smuggled on two first funds belonging to the period before 2003 and subject to the Department of Finance and economic pursuits in the accountability and justice, and the second concerning the funds arising from corruption and illegal acts after 2003, which requires the recovered version judicial decisions with international memorandums or bilateral agreements between Iraq and other countries ».

the Commission has confirmed that« follow the work of Iraqi funds Redemption Fund formed under law No. 9 of 2012 revealed not recover any amount in spite of the presence of deposits of Iraq in the countries of the world, as the Fund's board proposal to management could not or hold any international agreements as well as the lack of action on the oil-for-food files.

the Committee recommended pressure on states to cooperate retrieves convicted and money as well as the importance of studying the experiences of countries in the fight against corruption.

in the interventions of Representatives, MP Faleh applicable chairman of the Finance Committee revealed not specify the size of the amounts smuggled yet. He questioned the role of the Council of Ministers in the follow-up action to recover funds Iraq and procedures on the stated accounts Fund.

He called on the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, MP Hassan Chuird coordination between the executive authorities and authorities Alaniaabh to follow the file recovery with high professionalism and to produce tangible results.

He also noted the parliamentary Finance Committee member Jabbar al-Abadi that the executive bodies that attended the parliamentary session, does not have data on Iraqi funds smuggled base abroad.

decided the House of Representatives to convert its to «secret session» after he embarked committees displays a list of names of responsible in the previous government figures were involved smuggling money out of Iraq.

in the end of the discussion session, Speaker Salim al-Jubouri, the face of the formation of a supreme committee under the supervision of his two deputies and the membership of the heads of parliamentary committees, referring to hold a further hearing will be rescheduled later.

it refers Followers that this sensitive file has not been followed up well during the previous period, for several reasons, including lack of various stakeholders efforts deposited or looted funds estimated by some experts at about $ 15 billion, format, and the weakness of Iraqi laws related to it and escape some of the countries where the smuggled money from the repatriation of such funds to Iraq, in addition to the presence of powerful political forces in the Iraqi government and parliament hamper re-file corruption money smuggled members of the governments in the post-2003.