Embezzlement in Iran Increased by 27 Percent

The head of the Criminal Investigation Police of the Law Enforcement Force stated that in the first 10 months of the year 1393 (2014), embezzlement increased by 27 percent compared to the same period last year, collusion in government transactions increased by 20 percent, and land grabbing increased by over 40 percent. According to Fars News Agency, Mohammad Reza Moghimy made this statement on Tuesday, January 22, and added that tax evasion and unauthorized loans have decreased this year and the situation has improved compared to the past, as unauthorized loans are sometimes monitored. Mr. Moghimy did not mention the financial value of the embezzlement cases discovered in the first 10 months of 1393. According to Article 4 of the Law on Combatting Administrative and Economic Corruption, passed in 2011, the Ministry of Intelligence is considered the judicial authority in major financial corruption cases. Financial violations and corruption in the Islamic Republic have become one of the current topics in the media and political atmosphere of Iran. Ali Tayebnia, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, announced on December 15 the discovery of a 'financial corruption' case in the country's banking network involving violations worth 12 trillion tomans, stating that the suspects in this case have been arrested. Yadollah Mohammadi, the head of the judiciary in Kerman province, announced on Wednesday, December 19, that the damages from this 'banking mismanagement' amounted to 230 billion tomans. The latest report from Transparency International this year shows that Iran ranks 136 out of 175 countries and regions on the 'Global Corruption Perception Index.' However, this ranking is better compared to last year. During Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency in 2009, Iran's 'corruption index' reached its worst state, falling to rank 168 globally. The head of the Criminal Investigation Police stated on Tuesday that 'we expect the Economic Crimes Police Law to be approved by the parliament.' Concurrently, Ismail Ahmadi Moghadam, the commander of the Law Enforcement Force, emphasized that there are two divisions, the Economic Crimes Department and the Goods and Currency Smuggling Department, within the Criminal Investigation Police, and our proposal is to merge these two police units and form an Economic Crimes Police outside the Criminal Investigation Police. Currently, the General Inspection Organization, the Court of Accounts, the Anti-Smuggling Headquarters, the Ministry of Intelligence, and the Law Enforcement Force are among the organizations in the Islamic Republic responsible for combating corruption. Additionally, a proposal to establish an 'Economic Corruption Combat Organization' is under review in parliamentary committees. If established, this organization is set to address 'corruption' involving amounts over 500 million tomans. According to the proposal by parliament members published on the website of the Research Center of the Parliament, the 'Economic Corruption Combat Organization' will be established under the supervision of the head of the judiciary, and its head will be appointed with the 'permission' of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.