Head of Korean firm in Iraq commits suicide

BAGHDAD

Director of a Korean company implementing a strategic project in Iraq has committed suicide, the Iraqi Human Rights Commission said on Friday.

Mahdi Al-Tamimi, director of the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, said in a statement that Park Chul-ho, head of the Daewoo E&C office, which is implementing the Al-Faw port project, committed suicide in the Basra Governorate, southern Iraq.

"The Korean official hanged himself with a wire, and the incident was discovered by a service worker in the company," Al-Tamimi said.

Basra Police First Lt. Nafi Al-Jabri told Anadolu Agency that "the police forces found Park on Friday hanging inside his residence."

Al-Jabri said that the police in Basra Governorate are conducting an extensive investigation into the incident to determine its circumstances.

It was not clear whether the incident had criminal aspect or not, but it came three days after the Iraqi authorities signed a contract with the Korean side to start implementing Al-Faw port project.

The previous Iraqi government estimated the total cost to complete the construction project for the Al-Faw port at about €4.4 billion ($5.2 billion).

The Iraqis consider the port of Al-Faw as one of the most prominent projects that will bring economic benefit to the country if completed.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat