Hit district police chief arrested for alleged murder, corruption

Sunni police officers being trained on May 3rd at Camp Hero in Anbar province, which is also home to Hit.

A Sunni police chief praised by U.S. forces for clearing his city of insurgents has been arrested following an investigation into alleged murder, corruption and crimes against the Iraqi people, the U.S. military said Wednesday.

Col. Hamid Ibrahim al-Jazaa, his brother and 14 bodyguards were taken into custody Tuesday in the city of Hit, 140 kilometers (85 miles) west of Baghdad , according to a statement by the public affairs office of Multinational Corps-Iraq.

"The apprehensions were the result of an investigation which alleges murder, corruption and crimes against the Iraqi people. The apprehension of this group was authorized and coordinated with local Hit city officials," the statement said. "All the accused are currently being held in coalition force custody."

The statement gave no details of the allegations.

Al-Jazaa was lauded by the U.S. military for leading "Operation Police Victory," a crackdown on insurgents in the Sunni Arab city last February.

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