JUSTICE MINISTER DISCUSSES CORRUPTION, EXTRADITION, AND FUNDS RECOVERY WITH IRAQI DELEGATION

Caretaker Justice Minister, Judge Henry Khoury, on Thursday met with an Iraqi delegation, including Judge Haidar Hanoun, Head of the Arab Network for Integrity and Anti-Corruption and the Iraqi Integrity Commission. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation to combat corruption through oversight bodies in Lebanon and Iraq. For his part, Minister Khoury highlighted the strong relationship between Lebanon and Iraq, stating, "I felt a genuine closeness with Iraq, especially given their understanding of Lebanon's judicial situation. We discussed various matters, including recovering funds from abroad and extraditing certain detainees." In turn, Judge Hanoun emphasized the importance of combating corruption through joint efforts, involving the judiciary and ministries of justice. "We discussed expediting the extradition process and recovering funds between Iraq and Lebanon. In Iraq, we engage with our Lebanese brothers with a sense of empathy, recognizing Lebanon's economic challenges,' Hanoun noted. Hanoun also mentioned efforts to retrieve two significant suspects in Lebanon involved in a major theft case, hoping for facilitated processes. He expressed optimism about future cooperation, including exchange programs and joint work in various legal sectors. Hanoun concluded by affirming the Iraqi Commission's commitment to supporting the Lebanese Anti-Corruption Commission through logistical, financial, and expertise sharing to enhance their efforts. Source: National news agency - Lebanon