Iraq’s Integrity Commission has announced the suspension of the sale of two state-owned properties in Anbar Province after uncovering serious irregularities that could have caused significant losses to public funds.
According to the Commission, investigators from the Anbar Investigation Office discovered violations while inspecting the State Real Estate Department. The two properties, covering a total area of 186 dunams, were scheduled to be sold through a public auction.
The investigation found that the properties were valued far below their actual market prices. Officials estimated that proceeding with the sale under the proposed valuations would have caused a loss of approximately 4.65 billion Iraqi dinars in public funds. The auction was halted before the sale could be completed.
The Integrity Commission stated that its team also reviewed records at the Real Estate Registration Directorate, Urban Planning Directorate, and the General Tax Authority. Investigators identified violations related to property valuation procedures, real estate registration requirements, tax regulations, and the inaccurate determination of the properties’ locations, all of which contributed to their undervaluation.
Following the findings, the judge responsible for integrity cases in Ramadi ordered the immediate suspension of the bidding process and instructed the State Real Estate Department in Anbar not to proceed with the sale.
The Commission added that an audit report concluded the valuation process violated the provisions of the Law on the Sale and Lease of State Assets No. 21 of 2013. The valuation committee included representatives from the State Real Estate Department, the Real Estate Registration Directorate, and the Treasury Department.
As part of the ongoing investigation, the judge ordered statements to be taken from legal representatives of the State Real Estate Department, the Real Estate Registration Directorate, the Ramadi Municipality, and the General Authority for Taxes in Anbar to determine responsibility and whether further legal action is required.
The case is the latest anti-corruption action by Iraqi authorities aimed at protecting public assets and preventing the loss of state revenues through improper property transactions.
