General Company for Ports of Iraq: former director general jailed over a joint operation contract for multi-purpose berths and a food industries complex at North Umm Qasr (2019)

On 16 December 2019 the Federal Integrity Commission said the Basra misdemeanour court for integrity cases had sentenced the former Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq to prison, in his presence, under Article 331 of the Penal Code, which punishes an official who deliberately acts against the duties of his office. According to the Commission, he had signed a contract with an investment company for the joint management and operation of multi-purpose berths and for building a food industries complex at North Umm Qasr port. The Commission said the contract was signed despite gross unfairness to the rights and interests of the Ports Company, broke many of his duties and was made to benefit another person at the state's expense. The court relied on a Board of Supreme Audit report, the recommendations of a Ministry of Transport investigative committee and a letter from the Transport Minister's office to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. The statements relayed by Alsumaria News and Shafaq News name neither the director general nor the company, and do not give the length of the sentence.