Iraqi MPs to question senior official on corruption claims

Iraq's Council of Representatives Speaker Salim Al-Jabouri said Wednesday that lawmakers will interpellate Deputy Prime Minister Saleh Al-Mutlaq over alleged plundering of aid funds allocated for internally-displaced persons.
"Pursuant to the provisions of the constitution and in keeping with the democratic practices enshrined in the constitution, the Council will question Al-Mutlaq and practice its supervisory role over the government performance on behalf of the people," Al-Jabouri said in a press release.
The announcement came one week after the dissolution of the higher committee on the IDP affairs, led by Al-Mutlaq.
"The Council's chairmanship made the decision to question Al-Mutlaq after meeting all the necessary legal requirements and informing Al-Mutlaq of the planned motion," the statement said, noting that the date of the parliament debate on the issue will be specified soon.
Meanwhile, head of the parliamentary committee on integrity Justice Alaa Al-Sa'edi his committee has yet to receive the file of the higher committee on the IDP affairs.
"The file, which has been referred to the Council chairmanship, includes claims of financial and administrative fraud," Al-Sa'edi told reporters after his meeting with Al-Jabouri and heads of the independent commissions.
"The integrity committee could refer the dossier to the judiciary only after verifying the existence of fraudulent practices and meeting the legal procedures," he added.
On November 3 the Council decided to dissolve the higher committee on the IDP affairs in response to a request, tabled to the Council on October 30 by MP Mish'an Al-Jabouri, regarding suspected graft in the contracts of relief aid for IDP.
Earlier this year the Council appropriated up to USD one billion to the higher committee, formed during the tenure of prime minister Nuri Al-Maliki, in the wake of mass exodus triggered by ISIL attacks on Mosul, Diyala, Kirkuk and Salah-Eddin provinces.