Commission on Public Integrity

The Iraqi Commission on Public Integrity (CPI) is an independent commission within the government of Iraq tasked with preventing and investigating corruption at all levels of the Iraqi government nationwide. It is the coordinating umbrella organization for the other two pillars (The Board of Supreme Audit and the Inspectors General) of the national strategic anti-corruption campaign. The CPI seeks to promote and advance open, honest and accountable government through public education and awareness programs allowing citizens to report corruption through anonymous means. CPI works closely with the Inspectors General (IGs) of each Ministry and with the Board of Supreme Audit (BSA) to coordinate anti-corruption efforts. The CPI is also working with Ministry of Education officials to implement curricular materials in ethics and civics in public schools.

History

The commission was originally created on January 31, 2004 by the Iraqi Governing Council [cite press release |title=Commission on Public Integrity to Combat Government Corruption |publisher=Iraqi Governing Council |date=2004-01-31 |url=http://www.cpa-iraq.org/pressreleases/20040131_IGC_integrity_PR.html ] as authorized by the Coalition Provisional Authority's order 55, [Coalition Provisional Authority [http://www.cpa-iraq.org/regulations/20040204_CPAORD55.pdf Order 55] ] and was subsequently incorporated into the 2005 Constitution of Iraq.

Judge Radhi al-Radhi

Judge Radhi Hamza al-Radhi was selected by U.S. Ambassador Bremer as the first Commissioner from a list of three candidates chosen by the old "Judicial Council".cite press release |title=Statement of Judge Radhi Hamza al-Radhi before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform |publisher=Radhi Hamza al-Radhi |date=2007-10-04 |url=http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20071004103646.pdf ] On September 6, 2007 he announced he was resigning, citing political pressure from the government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki and anonymous death threats, [cite news |first=Alissa |last=Rubin |title=Blaming Politics, Iraqi Antigraft Official Vows to Quit |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/07/world/middleeast/07iraq.html |publisher=New York Times |date=2007-09-07 ] and deputy commissioner Moussa Faraj was named to replace him. [cite news |first=Qassim |last=Abdul-Zahra |title=New Iraqi Corruption Fighter Named |url=http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070906/D8RG2SVG0.html |publisher=Associated Press |date=2007-09-06 ] Stuart Bowen, who serves as Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, was quoted as saying Radhi's departure was "a real blow to anti-corruption efforts in Iraq," and that Rahdi had asked Bowen for help in fleeing Iraq. [cite news |first=Matt |last=Kelley |title=Iraqi's resignation hurts fight against corruption |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-09-09-iraqcorruption_N.htm |publisher=USA Today |date=2007-09-09 ]

On October 4, 2007, al-Radhi appeared before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and accused the government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of protecting corrupt employees and of actively attempting to "eradicate or control the Commission" and refusing to recognize the independence of the Commission on Public Integrity in violation of the Iraqi Constitution. The government responded by announcing they would sue al-Radhi for smuggling official documents, defaming the prime minister, and corruption. [cite news |author=Staff |title=Iraq to charge anti-corruption judge |url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071007/wl_mideast_afp/iraqcorruption_071007104509 |publisher=Agence France Presse |date=2007-10-07 ]

References