Shafaq News- Kirkuk
Organized groups and "corruption mafias" have engagedin the illegal sale and encroachment of state-owned land, Kirkuk InvestmentCommission Chairman Dair Zayan said on Wednesday, while confirming that thecommission has revoked investment licenses for projects that violated the law.
Zayan told Shafaq News that the commission reviewed aerialimages from 2017 showing that one investment site had no encroachments beforeauthorities granted its investment license, adding that construction andillegal occupation of the land began only after information about the plannedinvestment project became public.
“The Investment Commission has no security or executiveauthority to prosecute those involved in selling or occupying state land,” hesaid, calling on the relevant authorities in Kirkuk to take legal actionagainst real estate offices and "corruption mafias" to protect publicproperty and prevent illegal land seizures. Zayan also stated that the commission does not own the landallocated for investment projects. He explained that ownership belongs tovarious government entities, including the Ministry of Finance, the KirkukGovernorate's property department, Kirkuk Municipality, and other ministries. Thechairman stressed that the commission holds no land title deeds and that thelegal responsibility for protecting the properties rests with their respectiveowners.
Addressing revoked investment licenses, Zayan said thecommission withdrew one previously issued license after identifying multipleviolations, including the sale of the same housing unit to more than one buyerand the unlawful use of land designated for public services. “The resultingdisputes remain unresolved, and the relevant authorities continue to addressthem.”
The Judges Residential Complex holds a valid investmentlicense, and the work on the project is proceeding in accordance with legallyapproved plans and studies, he noted, emphasizing that the investor has noauthority to encroach on or seize neighboring land “because all project plansrequire approval from the relevant authorities and the Ministry of Constructionand Housing.”
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