“We previously discovered the breach.” Al-Kazemi’s latest comment on the “tax scandal”

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[size=52]“We previously discovered the breach.” Al-Kazemi’s latest comment on the “tax scandal”[/size]

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[size=45]The caretaker Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, said today, Sunday, that the issue of stolen funds from the Tax Authority calls for standing up to the atmosphere that helped spread corruption in the joints of the authority affiliated with the Ministry of Finance.[/size]
[size=45]And the Iraqi authorities recently announced the opening of an investigation into the “theft” of $2.5 billion from the funds of the Tax Authority’s secretariats in the Rafidain State Bank, in a case that once again reveals the rampant corruption in the country.[/size]
[size=45]The authorities did not announce the identity of those involved in the theft scandal, while the Integrity Commission received a request from the Ministry of Finance to open an investigation into the case that shook Iraqi public opinion.[/size]
[size=45]The official book, dated October 12, talks about “the theft of 3.7 trillion dinars (about 2.5 billion dollars) from the General Tax Authority’s trust account in the Rafidain Bank.”[/size]
[size=45]An official letter issued by the Tax Authority revealed that the amount was withdrawn between September 9, 2021, and August 11, 2022.[/size]
[size=45]Officials say that the financial instruments were drawn up and cash was distributed to five companies, describing what happened as a scandal.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Kazemi said in a statement, "My government previously discovered this breach based on data and indications that indicate it, so it hastened to open investigations, to move forward with the necessary legal procedures, and in cooperation with the judiciary, and all evidence and documents were handed over to the judiciary months ago."[/size]
[size=45]He added that the judiciary was quick to issue orders to disburse the sums, and to issue arrest warrants against the suspects, and the government's measures prevented the draining of other funds from the authority and from other places.[/size]
[size=45]He continued, "We confirm that this government has followed the legal procedures ... and submitted all documents, evidence and clues that contribute to revealing the truth, and knowing the trespassers of public money."[/size]
[size=45]The Integrity Commission said that it had opened an investigation, adding that “the case is now before the judiciary,” adding that it will attach “the information contained in the Ministry of Finance’s book after organizing it according to minutes with the investigative papers and depositing it with the judiciary … so that the latter will issue the appropriate decisions against the defaulters.”[/size]
[size=45]She added that "the judiciary had previously issued summoning orders against senior officials in the ministry regarding the loopholes that led to this major breach and the outrageous abuse of public money."[/size]
[size=45]In addition, the former Acting Finance Minister, Ihsan Abdel-Jabbar, in a tweet accused a “specific group” of responsibility, without giving additional details.[/size]
[size=45]Iraq ranks 157 out of 180 in Transparency International's Corruption Index.[/size]
[size=45]In her briefing before the Security Council a few days ago, the United Nations envoy to Iraq, Jenin Plaschaert, said, “The rampant corruption represents a major root cause of dysfunction in Iraq.”[/size]
[size=45]"No leader can claim to be protected from him," she added.[/size]
[size=45]Trials in corruption cases, if they occur, are often targeted at low-ranking officials in a country where oil revenues constitute 90 percent of its financial revenues.[/size]
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