April 21, 2006 –The Iraqi Commissioner of Public Integrity, Mr. Radhi Hamza Al-Radhi, recently visited with Department of Defense Principle Deputy Inspector General Thomas F. Gimble to discuss the DoD IG mission.  Mr. Al-Radhi is in Washington, DC for a series of meeting with various agency heads.

Commissioner Radhi was appointed as Commissioner of the Commission on Public Integrity (CPI) on May 12, 2004.  CPI is dedicated to preventing and investigating corruption in all levels of Iraqi government.  CPI also seeks to promote demand for open, honest, and accountable government through public education and awareness programs.

Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Radhi was the Chief Judge of the Central Criminal Court of Iraq.  Judge on the Judicial Review Committee.  He previously served for many years as a judge and prosecutor in the various courts in Iraq.

Iraq’s CPI is a fully independent, non-sectarian entity responsible for enforcing anti-corruption laws and public service standards; proposing additional legislation to combat corruption; and heightening the Iraqi people’s demand for honest government through public relations campaigns and educational initiatives.  The CPI has the broad power to take such other actions it deems necessary and appropriate to achieve its objectives. 

The CPI is the principal enforcement arm of Iraq’s anti-corruption laws.  The Board of Supreme Audit serves as Iraq’s primary audit institution, but retains no prosecutorial or enforcement powers and must refer all evidence of fraud to the Inspector General of the relevant ministry.  The Inspectors General, in turn, must report their findings to the relevant minister and CPI for final review.  Only CPI is empowered to dispose of cases involving misconduct through criminal proceedings. 

CPI investigates allegations of corruption from any source and is empowered to ensure the safety of whistleblowers and informants.   

CPI employs financial auditors, investigators, attorneys, and investigators of the first class.  A CPI investigator of the first class can exercise the full powers of a court investigator in any part of Iraq.

CPI is an Iraqi success story.  It is empowered to investigate the full range of public corruption cases.  Recently, it made Iraqi history by bringing the former government minister before a judge on charges of corruption.  This is the first time since at least 1958 that a senior government official was brought before an Iraqi court in accordance with the Rule of Law and in a transparent manner.  CPI employs more than 180 American-trained investigators, all of whom are licensed Iraqi attorneys.  Currently, CPI has approximately 800 active cases.