NcDeuce
12-13-2003, 11:46 AM
Iraqi attorneys, 101st combat corruption in government
By Chantal Escoto
Members of the 101st Airborne Division and local Iraqi attorneys have been organized into a group called the Mosul Anti-Corruption Commission.
"Their mission is to target, investigate and prosecute corruption at all levels of government in Ninevah," said Lt. Col. John Bell, a reserve officer attached to the 101st Airborne Division Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. "It doesn't matter if they are at the highest level of government or the lowest level."
Bell, a civilian judge in Cocke County, has worked with the commission since its inception.
The commission is composed of 16 people, all local attorneys, and organized into three five-member teams. Walid Kashmooli chairs the commission.
"It's the first one of its kind," Bell said. "It's the first separate agency to work strictly with corruption in Iraq."
Corruption will be fought in six categories, according to Bell: bribery, embezzlement, unlawful imprisonment, tampering, abuse of power and hindering prosecution.
Corruption cases can be reported at the commission's office, by a simple letter or by a hotline that has been established, according to Kashmooli.
False accusations will themselves be charged with hindering prosecution.
"It's an ambitious project, but we'll do this one case at a time," Bell said. "You'll never stop all corruption, but it will slow it down."
The idea for the commission came from Lt. Col. Richard Whitaker, 101st Airborne staff judge advocate and was blueprinted by Capt. Rick Taylor.
Coalition and local officials in Baghdad are now looking to the Mosul commission as a model for future anti-corruption commissions.
Because of possible security threats, 16 bodyguards have been trained for members of the commission. The members themselves said they are more concerned with fighting corruption than potential risks.
The commission met for the first time last month.
By Chantal Escoto
Members of the 101st Airborne Division and local Iraqi attorneys have been organized into a group called the Mosul Anti-Corruption Commission.
"Their mission is to target, investigate and prosecute corruption at all levels of government in Ninevah," said Lt. Col. John Bell, a reserve officer attached to the 101st Airborne Division Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. "It doesn't matter if they are at the highest level of government or the lowest level."
Bell, a civilian judge in Cocke County, has worked with the commission since its inception.
The commission is composed of 16 people, all local attorneys, and organized into three five-member teams. Walid Kashmooli chairs the commission.
"It's the first one of its kind," Bell said. "It's the first separate agency to work strictly with corruption in Iraq."
Corruption will be fought in six categories, according to Bell: bribery, embezzlement, unlawful imprisonment, tampering, abuse of power and hindering prosecution.
Corruption cases can be reported at the commission's office, by a simple letter or by a hotline that has been established, according to Kashmooli.
False accusations will themselves be charged with hindering prosecution.
"It's an ambitious project, but we'll do this one case at a time," Bell said. "You'll never stop all corruption, but it will slow it down."
The idea for the commission came from Lt. Col. Richard Whitaker, 101st Airborne staff judge advocate and was blueprinted by Capt. Rick Taylor.
Coalition and local officials in Baghdad are now looking to the Mosul commission as a model for future anti-corruption commissions.
Because of possible security threats, 16 bodyguards have been trained for members of the commission. The members themselves said they are more concerned with fighting corruption than potential risks.
The commission met for the first time last month.