Iraqi MP Jailed 7 Years, Ordered to Pay Nearly 12 Billion Dinars for Illicit Gain

The Federal Commission of Integrity announced a seven-year prison sentence for MP Ashwaq Salem Hassan, following her conviction for illicit gain. The court mandated the MP to repay the illicitly gained funds and imposed a financial fine of equivalent value, totaling approximately 11,949,264,000 Iraqi Dinars. A statement from the Commission detailed that the Central Criminal Court for Anti-Corruption sentenced Member of Parliament Ashwaq Salem Hassan to seven years under Article (19/second) of Amended Law No. (30 of 2011) concerning the Commission of Integrity and Illicit Gain. The ruling requires her to return 2,114,820,000 Iraqi Dinars and 2,924,100 US Dollars obtained through illicit gain, in addition to an equivalent financial penalty, as per Article (19/fourth) of the law. Furthermore, the court issued a separate three-year severe imprisonment sentence against the convicted individual for concealing information in her financial disclosure form, based on Article (19/fifth) of the same law, opting to apply the more severe of the penalties. The court also affirmed the seizure of her movable and immovable assets, specifying that the verdict empowers the Federal Commission of Integrity to seek compensation for damages once the judgment becomes final.