Sunday, March 14, 2010
WASHINGTON, March 14 (UPI) -- U.S. officials looking at Iraq reconstruction say they have opened more than 50 new cases by tracking large cash transactions made by Americans from Iraq.
The allegedly corrupt transactions involve banks, loan payments, even payments to casinos, all linked to the $150 billion reconstruction program, The New York Times reported.
The Times said some of the transactions involved people suspected of mailing tens of thousands of dollars from Iraq to themselves, or just having stuffed the money into luggage when leaving the country. Others involved millions in wire transfers, with suspects allegedly using the money to buy cars, jewelry or pay off massive casino debts.
Some allegedly tried to conceal the money in foreign bank accounts, or just stacked it in home safes, investigators told the newspaper.
The 50 new cases, all opened in the last six months, follow dozens of earlier indictments and convictions since the 2003 Iraq invasion, but reflect the chaos, poor oversight and wide use of cash payments in the Iraqi reconstruction program, The Times said.
Many Americans who took bribes or stole money got away with it, investigators say.
U.S. officials agreed to answer general questions on the new cases, but declined to name the suspects, including private contractors, military officers and civilian officials, the newspaper said.
The U.S. Congress has appropriated about $53 billion for Iraq reconstruction projects, The Times said; the rest of the money came from Iraqi assets and international pledges.
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