Theme
  • Light
  • Dark
Other Sites
Iraqi electoral officials suspected of corruption released on bail
Faraj al- Haidari’s arrest sparked condemnation from a number of leading politicians, who accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of orchestrating a slide away from the electoral process and towards dictatorship. (AFP)

Iraqi electoral officials suspected of corruption released on bail

AFP, BAGHDAD
Published:

The head of Iraq’s electoral commission, Faraj al-Haidari, said he and another of the body’s members, who had been detained on suspicion of corruption, were freed on bail on Sunday.

“Now, I am outside of the (police) station,” Haidari told AFP by telephone, adding that Karim al-Tamimi, another member of the Independent High Electoral Commission, had also been released.

“The judge decided to free us” on bail of 15 million Iraqi dinars (about $12,500) each, Haidari said.

Asked if the court case was continuing, Haidari said “I think so, it depends on the judge.

“I want to thank all the people who support me,” he added. “I feel that the majority of Iraq’s people support me.”

Haidari’s arrest sparked condemnation from a number of leading politicians, who accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of orchestrating a slide away from the electoral process and towards dictatorship.