Iraq Investigation into the theft of 2.5 billion dollars in tax money Iraq Investigation into the theft of 2.5 billion dollars in tax money

Iraq Investigation into the theft of 2.5 billion dollars in tax money

Iraq Investigation into the theft of 2.5 billion dollars in tax money Today, the Iraqi authorities announced the start of an investigation into the case of the theft of 3 trillion and 700 billion Iraqi dinars, equivalent to 2.5 billion dollars from the state treasury, hours after former Finance Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar admitted that the money was stolen from the Rafidain Governmental Bank.  The Iraqi authorities have opened an investigation into the "theft" of $2.5 billion in tax authority funds in a government bank, officials in the country announced.  The authorities did not reveal the identity of those involved in the case. On Saturday, the official Iraqi News Agency published a request to open an investigation sent by the Ministry of Finance to the Integrity Commission, a government body concerned with fighting corruption.  The official book, dated October 12, talks about “the theft of 3.7 trillion Iraqi dinars (about 2.5 billion dollars) from the General Tax Authority’s trust account in the Rafidain Bank.”  The Prime Minister-designate, Muhammad Al-Sudani, wrote in a tweet on Twitter: "We have put this file in the first priority of our program, and we will not allow the Iraqis' money to be stolen, as happened with the funds of the General Authority for Taxes in the Rafidain Bank."  He added, "We will never slacken in taking real measures to curb the corruption that has spread in all insolence to the joints of the state and its institutions."   An official letter issued by the Tax Authority, which was leaked to the media, revealed that $2.5 billion was withdrawn between the period from September 9, 2021 to August 11, 2022. These financial instruments were issued to five companies, which paid them directly in cash.  Commenting on the case, Century International researcher Sajjad Jiyad wrote on Twitter: "The obvious questions are who are the real owners of these companies and who allowed the bonds to be given to these companies? How did it go unnoticed for a whole year? Who are the politicians involved in the process of corruption and theft? This big one?"  On Sunday, the Integrity Commission said it had opened an investigation into the case. She added in a statement that "the case is now before the judiciary," adding that it will attach "the information contained in the Ministry of Finance's book, after organizing it according to minutes with the investigative papers, and depositing it with the judiciary so that the latter issues the appropriate decisions against the defaulters."  She added that "the judiciary had previously issued summoning orders against senior officials in the ministry regarding the loopholes that led to this major breach and the outrageous abuse of public money."  Speaking Saturday about an internal investigation at the Ministry of Finance into the case, former Acting Finance Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar in a tweet accused a "specific group" of responsibility, without giving additional details.  Iraq ranks 157 (out of 180) in Transparency International's "Perceptions of Corruption" index.  In her briefing to the Security Council, the United Nations envoy to Iraq, Jenin Plaschaert, said: "The rampant corruption represents a major root cause of dysfunction in Iraq." "Frankly, no leader can claim to be protected from him," she added.  Often, prosecutions in corruption cases, if they occur, target officials in secondary positions, in a country where oil revenues constitute 90% of its revenues.

Today, the Iraqi authorities announced the start of an investigation into the case of the theft of 3 trillion and 700 billion Iraqi dinars, equivalent to 2.5 billion dollars from the state treasury, hours after former Finance Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar admitted that the money was stolen from the Rafidain Governmental Bank.

The Iraqi authorities have opened an investigation into the "theft" of $2.5 billion in tax authority funds in a government bank, officials in the country announced.

The authorities did not reveal the identity of those involved in the case. On Saturday, the official Iraqi News Agency published a request to open an investigation sent by the Ministry of Finance to the Integrity Commission, a government body concerned with fighting corruption.

The official book, dated October 12, talks about “the theft of 3.7 trillion Iraqi dinars (about 2.5 billion dollars) from the General Tax Authority’s trust account in the Rafidain Bank.”

The Prime Minister-designate, Muhammad Al-Sudani, wrote in a tweet on Twitter: "We have put this file in the first priority of our program, and we will not allow the Iraqis' money to be stolen, as happened with the funds of the General Authority for Taxes in the Rafidain Bank."

He added, "We will never slacken in taking real measures to curb the corruption that has spread in all insolence to the joints of the state and its institutions."


An official letter issued by the Tax Authority, which was leaked to the media, revealed that $2.5 billion was withdrawn between the period from September 9, 2021 to August 11, 2022. These financial instruments were issued to five companies, which paid them directly in cash.

Commenting on the case, Century International researcher Sajjad Jiyad wrote on Twitter: "The obvious questions are who are the real owners of these companies and who allowed the bonds to be given to these companies? How did it go unnoticed for a whole year? Who are the politicians involved in the process of corruption and theft? This big one?"

On Sunday, the Integrity Commission said it had opened an investigation into the case. She added in a statement that "the case is now before the judiciary," adding that it will attach "the information contained in the Ministry of Finance's book, after organizing it according to minutes with the investigative papers, and depositing it with the judiciary so that the latter issues the appropriate decisions against the defaulters."

She added that "the judiciary had previously issued summoning orders against senior officials in the ministry regarding the loopholes that led to this major breach and the outrageous abuse of public money."

Speaking Saturday about an internal investigation at the Ministry of Finance into the case, former Acting Finance Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar in a tweet accused a "specific group" of responsibility, without giving additional details.

Iraq ranks 157 (out of 180) in Transparency International's "Perceptions of Corruption" index.

In her briefing to the Security Council, the United Nations envoy to Iraq, Jenin Plaschaert, said: "The rampant corruption represents a major root cause of dysfunction in Iraq." "Frankly, no leader can claim to be protected from him," she added.

Often, prosecutions in corruption cases, if they occur, target officials in secondary positions, in a country where oil revenues constitute 90% of its revenues.

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