Warrant expected for Iraq's former defence minister

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1939411.htm

Warrant expected for Iraq's former defence minister


BAGHDAD, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Iraqi authorities are expected to issue an arrest warrant for the country's former defence minister in connection with the disappearance of more than $1 billion, a top corruption investigator said on Monday.

Radhi al-Radhi, the head of Iraq's Commission on Public Integrity, said he handed a file of evidence against Hazim Shaalan, who served under Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, to Iraq's central criminal court two months ago and expected a warrant for his arrest to be issued soon.

"I expect the court will issue the warrants in the next week to 10 days, for Shaalan and for other senior officials," Radhi told Reuters in an interview.

[acmavm]

1. No comments? I find it highly obscene that 1 billion is gone. I find it

highly unlikely that only one guy should be arrested. If you ask me, I think that Allawi and the rest of them were in on it. They're all over there robbing us blind. What the hell do they care, what are we gonna do. And when they're in power the think they're invincible and won't ever be caught. And on the off chance that they are, so frigging what? (Strange, that sounds familiar for some reason.)

Only problem is Allawi & Co. aren't running the show anymore. So therefore, they could be in big trouble.

[ECH1969]

2. This is political

Mostly trumped up charges to make Allawi look bad before the election at the end of the year.

I have no doubt alot of corruption occured and continues to occur, but the reason they are doing this now is purely about the election.

[acmavm]

3. I doubt it. Why would you say that? What proof do you have? Allawi's

'government' was so corrupt that I was completely taken aback when they attacked Chalabi. He fit right in. And Allawi and Chalabi are cousins. I thought it would be a 'birds of a feather' type of deal.

[thebigidea]

9. you actually think Allawi needs ANYTHING to look bad? He IS bad.

He's a cheap thug who had zero credibility. I can't believe you're giving him any - then again, maybe I can.

[Moderator]

4. kick

[buzzsaw_23]

5. Ex-Iraqi Defence Minister Wanted over $1bn fraud

Ex-Iraqi defence minister wanted over $1bn fraud

Michael Howard in Baghdad
Tuesday September 20, 2005
The Guardian

Iraqi authorities are preparing an arrest warrant for the country's former defence minister in connection with a massive fraud case involving the "disappearance" of more than $1bn from ministry coffers.

Judge Raid al-Radhi, who is head of Iraq's commission on public integrity, said yesterday that he had given Iraq's central criminal court a dossier of evidence against Hazim Shaalan, who was minister of defence under the former government of Ayed Allawi.

"What Shaalan and his ministry were responsible for is possibly the largest robbery in the world. Our estimates begin at $1.3bn <£720m> and go up to $2.3bn," Judge Radhi, who is Iraq's senior anti-corruption official, told Reuters.

The "robbery" is believed to include the signing of multimillion-dollar deals with companies to supply equipment that was sometimes inappropriate for the new army or was years out of date. It is also alleged that the ministry paid huge premiums for some military hardware.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1573954,00.html

[Erika]

6. Allawi is another Bush bud.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WhiteTara]

7. Ex-Iraqi defence minister wanted over $1bn fraud

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1573954,00.html
<snip>
"What Shaalan and his ministry were responsible for is possibly the largest robbery in the world. Our estimates begin at $1.3bn <£720m> and go up to $2.3bn," Judge Radhi, who is Iraq's senior anti-corruption official, told Reuters.

The "robbery" is believed to include the signing of multimillion-dollar deals with companies to supply equipment that was sometimes inappropriate for the new army or was years out of date. It is also alleged that the ministry paid huge premiums for some military hardware.
<snip>
Allegations of corruption at the defence ministry have been swirling around Baghdad for some time, but the scale of the fraud has shocked many. A defence ministry source, who requested anonymity, told The Guardian yesterday that hundreds of millions of dollars had been wasted on unnecessary and overpriced equipment for Iraq's military.

"There appears to be no oversights and accountability in the procurement," he said. Investigators have been investigating weapons and equipment deals struck by the former procurement officer Ziad Cattan and other officials. The source said the most egregious case involved a $236m contract last December to equip the Iraqi army with helicopters and other material.

and of course there is much more. $200 Billion Dollars and all they got were crappy and non existant equipment and we got the do whacka do.
IMPEACH BUSH AND SEND THEM ALL TO THE HAGUE

[emad]

10. Today's Guardian coverage:

Ex-Iraqi defence minister wanted over $1bn fraud

· Warrant issued after army left with old weapons
· Allawi regime blamed for lack of checks on ministry

Michael Howard in Baghdad
Tuesday September 20, 2005
The Guardian


Iraqi authorities are preparing an arrest warrant for the country's former defence minister in connection with a massive fraud case involving the "disappearance" of more than $1bn from ministry coffers.
Judge Raid al-Radhi, who is head of Iraq's commission on public integrity, said yesterday that he had given Iraq's central criminal court a dossier of evidence against Hazim Shaalan, who was minister of defence under the former government of Ayed Allawi.

"What Shaalan and his ministry were responsible for is possibly the largest robbery in the world. Our estimates begin at $1.3bn <£720m> and go up to $2.3bn," Judge Radhi, who is Iraq's senior anti-corruption official, told Reuters.

The "robbery" is believed to include the signing of multimillion-dollar deals with companies to supply equipment that was sometimes inappropriate for the new army or was years out of date. It is also alleged that the ministry paid huge premiums for some military hardware.

Judge Radhi said he expected the court to issue warrants over the next week to 10 days for Mr Shaalan and for other senior defence ministry officials. The judge said he had passed the file of evidence on the case to Iraqi authorities two months ago.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1573954,00.html