At a Glance

• Iraq’s Federal Integrity Commission has intervened in a property sale in Babel.
• The case involves railway department properties sold to employees.
• A specialized court has requested clarification from the Ministry of Transport.
• Investigations are continuing to establish potential legal responsibility.

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Iraq’s Federal Integrity Commission has reported a case involving the sale of public assets in Babel Governorate, prompting judicial inquiries and further investigation.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Public Asset Management: "The case concerns the valuation and sale of properties belonging to the Babel Railways Department." - Iraq’s Federal Integrity Commission
• Legal Oversight: "The Hilla Investigation Court has sought clarification on the legal basis and authorization for the sales." - Iraq’s Federal Integrity Commission
• Investigation: "Procedures are ongoing to identify those responsible and refer them to the judiciary." - Iraq’s Federal Integrity Commission

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Registration Procedures Halted

The Commission said an investigative and auditing team from its Babel Investigation Office visited the governorate’s Real Estate Registration Department and halted registration procedures for 57 properties belonging to the Babel Railways Department.

According to the Commission, the properties had been valued below their actual market prices and sold to department employees, potentially violating Iraq’s State Assets Sale and Lease Law No. 21 of 2013.

Properties and Valuation Concerns

The properties comprised 31 assets directly owned by the Babel Railways Department and 26 properties sold without prior land subdivision procedures.

The Commission estimated the potential loss to public funds at 23,986,390,000 Iraqi dinars. The Real Estate Registration Directorate subsequently refrained from completing the registrations.

Court Seeks Ministry Clarification

The Hilla Investigation Court, specialized in integrity cases, decided to contact the Ministry of Transport’s Legal Department to establish the legal basis for the reported low valuations.

The court also sought clarification on whether the Babel Railways Department had been authorized to assess the properties and conduct the auction with the ministry’s approval.

The Commission said the investigation remains ongoing, with the aim of identifying those responsible and referring them to the judiciary.

FYI

Iraq’s State Assets Sale and Lease Law No. 21 of 2013 provides the legal framework cited by the Commission in assessing the property transactions. The investigation is examining whether the sales and their valuation procedures complied with the law.

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