U.S. authorities are now investigating corruption in connection with the reconstruction of Iraq and should, according to The New York Times, have created more than 50 new cases in the past six months.

Investigators have examined the large cash transactions by Americans that are involved in the reconstruction which in itself amounts to almost 150 billion dollars

Some of the issues apply to persons who are suspected of having sent several tens of thousands of dollars to himself as the mail from Iraq, or to have stuffed money in the luggage when they left the country.

In other cases the suspects have transferred millions of dollars to his own bank account. The suspects will then have used the money to buy BMW’s, SUV’s and expensive jewelry, or to pay down its huge casino debt, according to The New York Times.

From before the few dozen people tried and convicted for corruption since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. But the new cases confirmed the government has long feared: that the chaos, the poor supervision and widespread use of cash in the reconstruction has meant that many had the opportunity to exploit the system.

Cases were revealed in connection with a new investigation of financial activities that were initiated last summer. A similar investigation was in February initiated in Afghanistan.

Among the suspects are military officers, servants and mercenaries.

many of the cases involved bribery and corruption in the form of illegal remuneration to reward soldiers. In some cases to spouses or other relatives of the suspects have been accused of having created false companies to hide the fraud.

Many have refused to have done nothing wrong, while others admit to having taken in the small bribes when further investigation reveals it to be talking about hundreds of thousands dollars.

references:
newyork times

Reuters

iraqi almashraq news

Iraqi Streets