Iraq’s new ‘anti-corruption’ crackdown sees arrests rise to 67
Iraqi authorities have arrested 67 officials, including 13 lawmakers, political figures, government employees, and business owners, on so-called charges of financial corruption, misappropriation of public funds, and illicit trade, ahead of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's visit to the US next month.
The arrests are claimed to be prompted by confessions from former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili, who was apprehended last month, the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported, citing a senior source.
Jumaili was previously sanctioned by the US.
The unnamed source said that among those arrested were 13 lawmakers whose immunity had been revoked, including Muthanna al-Samarrai, a leading Sunni politician and head of the Azm Alliance.
Other lawmakers arrested include Ziad al-Janabi, Mohammed al-Karbouli, Alia Nassif, and Hassan al-Khafaji, along with former parliamentarian Mohammed al-Sayhoud and Deputy Oil Minister for Distribution Affairs Ali Maarej.
An unnamed diplomat in Baghdad told AFP that the raids were "part of preparations for the visit to Washington" and to demonstrate Mr. al-Zaidi's commitment to the promises he made earlier.
Earlier, another security source informed the local news outlet al-Mada that Iraqi special security forces were deployed within Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone early on Sunday, conducting a series of arrests aimed at political figures, officials, and security personnel whose names were purportedly linked to corruption and abuse of power.
Iraq’s Federal Integrity Commission announced in a statement that it had initiated "strict measures" to enforce judicial arrest warrants issued against several suspects accused of misusing public funds.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, a businessman with little political experience, was chosen by the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shia political parties that is Iraq's largest parliamentary bloc, to try to form a new government in April.
One of his key tasks is cracking down on corruption, which has been widespread in Iraq for decades and which successive prime ministers have promised, but failed to tackle.
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