Integrity Commission Vows No Compromise on Public Funds

Mohammed Ali Al-Lami, head of the Federal Commission of Integrity (FCI), affirmed Saturday the Commission's commitment to protecting public funds and prosecuting those involved in corruption. He stressed that government contract audits, especially in oil and electricity sectors, are conducted professionally and impartially to uncover facts and hold negligent parties accountable under law. During a meeting with field teams auditing contracts, Al-Lami urged accelerating investigations and adhering to high professional standards. This aims to identify deficiencies, preserve state rights, and safeguard public money, ensuring completed files reach judicial authorities. Al-Lami lauded past achievements, including referring several corruption suspects to the judiciary. These, he explained, resulted from integrated efforts among supervisory, judicial, executive bodies, and honest citizens. He reiterated that corrupt individuals are a small, outcast group; honest, public-interest-focused individuals form the Iraqi society's majority, providing crucial support for FCI's tireless teams. The FCI head called on citizens to aid anti-corruption efforts by reporting violations and illicit gain. He noted new instructions for receiving information offer an effective framework to protect whistleblowers and enhance cooperation with relevant authorities. Al-Lami confirmed the current opportunity to contain corruption and mitigate its risks is unprecedented, backed by legislative, executive, and judicial authorities, plus direct follow-up from Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi. This strengthens the rule of law and protects public funds. It is noteworthy that FCI, in late May, formed specialized teams under its direct supervision. These teams conduct comprehensive audits and investigations into important government contracts, verifying compliance, identifying negligent parties harming public funds, and presenting findings to the competent judicial authorities.