Ex-Electricity Minister Sentenced

London-based Asharq al-Awsat is a pro-Saudi paper issued daily.

Thursday, 12 October, 2006

IWPR

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Ex-Electricity Minister Sentenced

London-based Asharq al-Awsat is a pro-Saudi paper issued daily.

The Iraqi criminal court has sentenced former electricity minister Ayham Al-Smarayee to two years in jail after being found guilty of wasting public money. But some sources say that US military forces took the ex-minister in the government of Ayad Allawi to the US embassy after he was sentenced. Ali Al-Shaboot, a spokesman for the Iraqi Public Integrity Commission, refused to comment on the claims. But Sabah Al-Sa’idy, head of the commission, accused American forces of protecting Al-Samarayee.

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