Extradition of fugitive convicted of embezzling billions from Wasit health

Official authorities successfully extradited a fugitive convicted of embezzling massive public funds exceeding three billion Iraqi dinars from the Wasit health department, following close monitoring and intensive coordination with authorities in the Lebanese Republic. The relevant entities confirmed that the extradition department prepared the complete legal files for the accused Alia Hassouni, a former employee at the Wasit health department, and transmitted them through diplomatic and judicial channels to the Lebanese side, resulting in her arrest and formal handover via the International Criminal Police Organization Interpol. This handover operation came as the fruit of continuous communication and diligent cross-border pursuit efforts in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, the Public Prosecution, and the Iraqi Embassy in Beirut. The case details summarize the involvement of the concerned individual in embezzling public funds in two installments, the first amounting to approximately two billion and eight hundred million dinars, while the second was estimated at around nine hundred million dinars, bringing the total embezzled funds to nearly four billion dinars. The Wasit Criminal Court had examined the lawsuit and reviewed the obtained evidence, which included the statements of the legal representative, witness testimonies, administrative investigation results, and the presumption of flight, leading to an in-absentia ruling sentencing her to life imprisonment based on the provisions of the Penal Code related to embezzlement and complicity, in addition to obligating her to restitute the stolen funds in full and granting the damaged entity the right to claim necessary legal compensation after the decision acquires final status.