Integrity Commission Head from Paris: Foreign Nationalities No Safe Haven for Corrupt

Mohammed Ali Al-Lami, head of Iraq's Integrity Commission, affirmed in Paris on Tuesday that foreign nationalities and claims of political targeting will not provide a safe haven for corrupt individuals. This statement came during anti-corruption and asset recovery discussions he held with French officials in the capital. Al-Lami met with the heads of the French Anti-Corruption Agency and the Asset Recovery Agency, alongside a representative from the French Ministry of Justice. These meetings took place on the sidelines of his participation in the government delegation accompanying Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zeydi's visit to France. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and activating coordination to track and recover individuals and funds obtained through corruption, as part of both countries' efforts to expand institutional partnership. Al-Lami stressed the necessity of effective international cooperation to pursue those convicted and wanted in corruption cases, and to track, freeze, and recover smuggled assets and funds. He affirmed that the cross-border nature of these crimes mandates continuous international coordination as a shared responsibility, even with a complete national anti-corruption system in place. He highlighted the importance of these discussions in enhancing cooperation for the recovery of funds and assets obtained from corruption. Talks included coordinating requests for legal and judicial assistance to track, seize, and confiscate them, in addition to identifying practical obstacles, working jointly to address them, and expediting procedures. Al-Lami asserted that corruption has become a global, cross-border phenomenon, necessitating concerted international efforts. He cited Iraq's accession to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and its commitment to its provisions and utilizing available international cooperation frameworks, especially in asset recovery and legal and judicial cooperation. He noted that recovering smuggled Iraqi funds and assets is crucial for economic development. Reinvesting these funds in construction, development, and service projects fosters a safe, attractive business environment for foreign investments. He emphasized the importance of international partners assisting Iraq in accessing and returning its overseas funds and assets to the public treasury. Al-Lami explained that the Federal Integrity Commission, as the supreme body concerned with anti-corruption, operates under a legal system granting it powers in investigation, asset recovery, and promoting integrity and transparency values. He expressed its aspiration to formalize and activate the bilateral agreement with the French Anti-Corruption Agency, establishing a new phase of institutional and practical cooperation between the two sides.