The judiciary of Iraq issued arrest warrants
for four former officials who are charged with aiding the theft of $2.5 billion
in public funds in one of the largest-ever corruption scandals in the nation on
Saturday.
Four prominent former government officials had
"arrest orders issued for them," according to a statement from the
country's anti-corruption department.
The four men, who include a former finance
minister and Mustafa Al-relatives, Kadhimi all reside abroad, according to an
agency official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
According to the source, the officials are
former finance minister Ali Allawi, director of cabinet Raed Jouhi, personal
secretary Ahmed Najati, and advisor Mushrik Abbas. The warrants do not
specifically name any of the officials.
Allawi, a well-known academic and politician,
resigned in August of last year after the scandal surfaced.
The case, which has been termed "the
robbery of the century," prompted indignation in Iraq, which is accused by
opponents of being corrupt and home to significant amounts of oil.
With 247 checks that were cashed by five
companies between September 2021 and August 2022, at least $2.5 billion was
stolen. The funds were then taken out of the accounts of these businesses, the
majority of whose owners are on the run.
According to the announcement, the four
individuals are suspected of "facilitating the misappropriation of amounts
belonging to the tax authorities," and they will also have their assets
frozen.
Since taking office in late October, the
nation's current prime minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, has committed to
eradicating corruption.