ERBIL, Kurdistan Region- The acting governor of Kirkuk Rakan al-Jabouri has downplayed a case and an arrest warrant filed against him by Iraq’s Integrity Commission, saying he’s cooperating with the authorities.
"I think it is a normal warrant for investigations,” the acting governor told Iraq’s al-Sharqiyah news. “We have provided everything the committee has done and all the measures it has taken to the court and have appealed it."
Iraq's Integrity Commission announced an arrest warrant for al-Jabouri for allegedly failing to take appropriate legal measures concerning goods confiscated at Kirkuk's customs zones in 2016.
Juwan Hassan, a Kurdish member of the Kirkuk provincial council told Rudaw that there are at least eight standing cases of corruption against the acting governor, including spending money from the coffers of the governor’s office without the knowledge of the provincial council.
Al-Jabouri was confident that the issue was "on the path to a resolution" within a week.
He added that what they have against him has been turned into an administrative matter, rather than legal.
Al-Jabouri said he respected the judiciary and its "independence" and he called on the courts to also investigate the case of destruction and abductions in Kirkuk villages.
Al-Jabouri who was appointed acting governor following the Iraqi takeover of Kirkuk in October 2017 said that he would let the courts lead the course of action and that his most recent visit to Baghdad was only to discuss his city’s infrastructure, electricity, and public services with the federal authorities.
"We continue working in the Kirkuk province and we will cooperate with all the judicial and monitoring authorities," he said.
He added that the courts had been given “incomplete” information on him.
Kurds are for their part accusing al-Jabouri of reinstating old Baath-era laws to seize Kurdish properties and lands in what many call a new wave of Arabization.
