UN: Finance and Electricity Ministries Most Corrupt in Kurdistan
UN: Finance and Electricity Ministries Most Corrupt in Kurdistan
8-19-2024
Information/Translation…
A report by the United Nations Development Program to combat corruption confirmed on Monday that the Ministries of Finance and Electricity in the Kurdistan Region are the most affected by corruption in the region.
The UN program report, translated by Al-Maalouma Agency, stated that “the report, which covers court sessions in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Dohuk, monitored more than 100 cases from November 2022 to December 2023, in addition to 50 rulings issued between 2016 and 2022. The report also focuses on major corruption cases, cases, including those involving high financial thresholds, high-level officials, public interest cases or those against whistleblowers and anti-corruption advocates.”
“The report’s most notable findings indicate that the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Electricity, and municipal councils are among the government sectors most affected by grand corruption, with rates of 25 percent, 18 percent, and 17 percent, respectively. The analysis also reveals an increase in the number of convictions compared to acquittals, although the rate of high-level defendants remains low, with charges brought against a small number of senior government officials,” he added.
The report urged the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Judicial Council, the Bar Association, civil society and the international community to implement proposed anti-corruption reforms. These reforms include establishing specialized courts for major corruption cases, updating the penal code to address current issues such as bribery in the private sector, and enacting legislation to protect whistleblowers and victims. The report also calls for limiting institutional discretion in withdrawing compensation claims and strengthening oversight in sectors affected by corruption.”
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