ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A growing corruption investigation in Iraq’s Salahaddin province has led to additional arrests and large-scale asset seizures, as authorities continue to uncover what appears to be a broad network of financial misconduct involving senior officials.
The confessions of former deputy oil minister for refining affairs Adnan al-Jumaili, arrested late May on charges of embezzlement of around 200 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately $152 million), have exposed a wider network of officials across state institutions, leading to the seizure of millions of dollars, gold, vehicles, and property documents.
Among those arrested is Ashwaq Jubouri, from whom “more than two billion dinars were seized in Tikrit,” according to a security source.
“The arrests were based on al-Jumaili’s confessions… some funds were found in Erbil and others in Baiji district," Yasin Muhammad, a member of the Salahaddin Provincial Council, told Rudaw's Hiwa Hussamadin.
The investigations are a part of Iraq’s anti-corruption campaign dubbed Operation Dawn, a large-scale crackdown launched on Sunday under the direction of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in coordination with Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity. The operation has so far resulted in the detention of around 21 suspects, including lawmakers, former officials, and senior government employees.
Security sources have said that around 22 lawmakers and senior figures have been detained so far, including the head of the Azm Alliance and several current and former MPs.
Governor of Salahaddin Haitham Zahwan told Rudaw that the provincial administrations “support the government’s measures against corruption and the work of the Integrity Commission and judiciary.”
The Commission of Integrity stated that it has opened 10 major corruption files involving investment, housing, stalled projects, and alleged misuse of public funds, estimating total losses at up to $6 billion.
According to Haider Muhan, a member of the Parliamentary Commission of Integrity told Rudaw’s Mustafa Goran that “the files include investment, housing, and public asset cases… the amounts are still under investigation.”
The anti-corruption campaign comes amid growing public frustration over poor services, unemployment, and salary delays across Iraq.
The scale of corruption is “enormous,” Former chairman of the Parliamentary Finance Committee Atwan al-Atwani told Rudaw, adding that legal measures will be applied to all those involved.
Officials also confirmed the transfer of 97 additional corruption files from Salahaddin to the Prime Minister’s office, while more than 31,000 corruption cases were registered in Iraqi courts last year.
In a separate case, the Supreme Judicial Council announced the seizure of funds and properties involving deputy oil minister for distribution affairs Ali Maarij al-Bahadly.
An investigating judge said the seizures encompass $11 million, 4 billion dinars, and several properties.
