Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Federal Integrity Commission issued a clarifying statement on Sunday, June 7, 2026, outlining the legal framework of a criminal complaint currently before the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court against a sitting Member of Parliament. The investigation centers on allegations of extortion targeting a private sector real estate developer, with the lawmaker accused of demanding substantial financial and equity benefits in exchange for using backdoor influence over official state procedures governing the project.
The regulatory briefing aligns with a formal request dispatched earlier that day by the Baghdad/Karkh Court of Appeals to the Council of Representatives, demanding the immediate stripping of parliamentary immunity from MP Hasanain Al-Khafaji, a defector from the Reconstruction and Development Coalition.
According to a leaked judicial document, Al-Khafaji allegedly extorted the owner of the “Hawra Baghdad Residential Project,” demanding that 40% of the multi-million dollar development’s total equity be legally registered under his name. In addition to the shares, the MP reportedly demanded a liquid cash payment of $500,000 to secure administrative clearances for the project, despite lacking any official state capacity or legal jurisdiction authorizing him to do so.
This request marks the second time in a single week that the judiciary has moved to strip a legislator’s immunity to face criminal prosecution.
Date of RequestAccused Member of ParliamentPolitical AffiliationNature of Criminal AllegationsMay 31, 2026Mohammad Nasir Al-KarbouliAzm CoalitionAlleged bribery involving a documented transaction of $50,000.June 7, 2026Hasanain Al-KhafajiIndependent (Formerly Reconstruction & Development)Alleged extortion demanding 40% equity in a housing project and $500,000 in cash.
In its official public clarification, the Integrity Commission—while adhering to standard judicial protocol by omitting the lawmaker’s name—confirmed that it exercised its statutory right and anti-corruption mandate to log the criminal complaint.
Investigations reveal that the MP attempted to execute the transaction and secure the 40% equity stake through an intermediary working as a staff member within his private office. The suspect allegedly pressured the real estate firm by boasting about deep-seated institutional ties and personal influence over key regulatory offices, including the Integrity Commission itself.
The commission emphasized that all active enforcement procedures are being conducted strictly within the boundaries of formal judicial investigation protocols. Commission officials reiterated that evaluating evidence, assigning guilt, and determining ultimate legal responsibilities rest exclusively with the Iraqi judiciary, in strict accordance with constitutional protections and the rule of law.
Concluding its statement, the federal watchdog reaffirmed its commitment to combating public sector graft and protecting national funds under amended Law No. 30 of 2011. The agency called on media networks to maintain absolute accuracy when reporting on active court dockets, issuing a stern warning against anyone attempting to invoke or exploit the name of the Integrity Commission to influence judicial paths, disrupt administrative protocols, or obstruct the course of justice.