Cablegate: Training for Commission On Integrity Investigators
VZCZCXRO6369
PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3348 3621307
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281307Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5916
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003348
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL/I, NEA/I
JUSTICE FOR ODAG, OPDAT, ICITAP, CRM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCOR KJUS IZ
SUBJECT: TRAINING FOR COMMISSION ON INTEGRITY INVESTIGATORS
IS A HIT IN TIKRIT
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: With the expanded capacity of Iraq's
primary anti-corruption enforcement agency, the Commission on
Integrity (COI), the U.S. has begun working with the agency's
managers to extend training programs for investigators in
selected provincial locations. The first session was
delivered by instructors from the DOJ International Criminal
Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) funded by
INL and hosted by Salah ad Din Provincial Reconstruction Team
(PRT) in November 21-25, 2009 and represents an important
expansion of the COI's legitimacy and capacity. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) The COI, along with Iraqi Ministry Inspectors
General, is the principal enforcer of Iraq,s anti-corruption
laws. Established in 2004, COI is an independent
governmental body charged with prevention, public education,
legislative engagement and enforcement of corruption laws.
Since mid-2004, the U.S. has provided extensive assistance,
including management and investigative training for COI
personnel designed and implemented by ICITAP advisors and
funded by INL.
3. (SBU) Since the appointment of COI Commissioner Judge
Raheem Hasan Al-Ugaily in 2007, ICITAP has been expanding
COI's capacity to design and conduct its own training
programs and, beginning in October 2009, COI agreed to
ICITAP's recommendations to expand investigative training
programs to COI offices in the provinces. Although the COI
established provincial offices (beginning with the branch
office set up in Basra in 2004), provincial programs,
staffing, and equipment have always lagged behind investments
in the Baghdad central office.
4. (SBU) The city of Tikrit, in Salah ad Din Province, was
chosen by COI as the site for the first of three provincial
training sessions, and training was carried out from November
21-25, 2009. The session was hosted by Salah ad Din PRT and
facilitated by the PRT,s DOJ Office of Overseas
Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT)
Resident Legal Advisor. A two-member ICITAP Team provided
instruction and materials for 21 COI participants from
Ninewa, Kirkuk and Salah ad Din, all of whom successfully
completed the course. Feedback from COI students was
overwhelmingly positive with demand for more of this type of
training. Subject to Commissioner Raheem,s approval, the
training program will be repeated for COI offices in Basra in
February 2010 and Najaf in March 2010.
5. (SBU) ICITAP COI program staffing consists of eight
technical advisors and trainers. The staffing levels will
remain constant through May 30, 2010, when the program draws
down to 3 advisors who will conclude the overall program by
March 31, 2011. Between December 2009 and May 2010, ICITAP
will present training courses for the COI in Non-Governmental
Organizations, Inspections & Audits, Computer Crimes &
Computer Forensics, Terrorist Financial Fraud, White Collar
Crime Investigations, Use of Advanced Technologies,
Undercover Operations and Financial Crimes Investigations.
From June 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011, the ICITAP advisors
will focus primarily on advising and mentoring for COI
officials in Baghdad, and will not conduct training sessions.
FORD