Kathleen Ridolfo
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Vol. 7, No. 5
February 12, 2004

The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq on Jan. 28 established the Commission on Public Integrity, which will enforce anticorruption laws and set public-service standards, according to a Feb. 3 press release posted on the CPA Web site http://www.cpa-iraq.org.

The Iraqi Governing Council will nominate a commissioner to head the body, who will then be appointed by CPA head L. Paul Bremer to a five-year term. A chief executive of Iraq would appoint subsequent commissioners from nominees submitted by the Council of Judges, the press release stated.

The commission is authorized to receive anonymous complaints from individual citizens, to investigate allegations of corruption, and to refer violations of corruption laws to the Iraqi criminal courts. The body can also propose legislation “to strengthen standards of ethical conduct for public officials and employees.” According to the press release, all government workers will be required to sign a written pledge that they will adhere to the public-employee Code of Conduct.