The Iraqi judiciary announced on Thursday the seizure of 25 billion Iraqi dinars, $200,000 and 4 kilograms of gold, as part of the ongoing investigations into the case of the detained Deputy Minister of Oil for Liquidation Affairs, Adnan al-Jumaili.
According to a statement issued by the Supreme Judicial Council, the investigating judge of the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court explained that part of the seized funds had been deposited with a number of people, while the other part was found hidden inside the walls of a number of houses, as part of the searches related to the investigations.
The statement explained that the total amount of new funds obtained amounted to 25 billion Iraqi dinars (about $19 million), $200,000, in addition to 4 kilograms of gold jewelry.
The statement confirmed that investigations are still ongoing, including tracking funds suspected of being obtained from corruption crimes, in addition to completing legal procedures against those suspected of involvement in the case, without disclosing further details regarding their number or identities.
These developments come days after the Iraqi judiciary announced the recovery of 375 kilograms of gold within the same investigations, including 358 kilograms directly related to the Al-Jumaili case, and 17 kilograms in another investigative case, in coordination with the Kurdistan Region authorities and under the supervision of the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zaidan.
The Iraqi judiciary had previously announced the seizure of real estate and factories valued at approximately 69 billion Iraqi dinars, as part of the pursuit of funds and assets suspected of being linked to the case.
The case of Adnan al-Jumaili, who was recently arrested, is one of the most prominent corruption cases that Iraq has witnessed recently, after investigations led to raids and seizures of funds and assets inside Baghdad and other areas, as part of a broader campaign led by the authorities to recover public funds and prosecute those involved in corruption cases.
A wave of arrests has been launched in Iraq, targeting political officials, members of parliament, and businessmen, as part of an anti-corruption campaign that Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi described as the "first phase" of broader measures to recover public funds, while tasking oversight bodies with receiving any indications related to cases of corruption or negligence in state institutions.
The Iraqi authorities affirm that all procedures are being carried out in accordance with legal principles, and that investigations are still ongoing, while determining criminal responsibilities and proving charges remains within the jurisdiction of the judiciary after the completion of investigations and judicial procedures.
