The case of detained Iraqi Oil Ministry Undersecretary for Refining Affairs Adnan Al Jumaili has become the focal point of converging actions by the judiciary, government, and parliament, as investigations widen and more public funds are seized. Iraqi authorities say the pursuit of those implicated will continue and that parliament's oversight role in corruption files will be activated.
In the latest development, the investigating judge of the Central Felony Court for Anti-Corruption, Diaa Jaafar, announced the seizure of an additional 14 billion Iraqi dinars, bringing the total funds recovered in the case to 141 billion dinars, according to a statement by the Supreme Judicial Council carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
Jaafar said the funds "were hidden in one of the pits designated for rainwater drainage," adding that their discovery resulted from "close monitoring of financial proceeds generated by waste in projects executed by the accused and the other parties to the case." He confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify all those implicated.
In a separate development, Iraqi security forces arrested the Director General of the Oil Products Distribution Company, Hussein Talib, on corruption-related charges, just hours before he was due to be sworn in as a replacement member of parliament for the State Forces Alliance in Baghdad, succeeding MP Ammar Moussa, according to Shafaq News Agency.
According to official information, the case encompasses more than 47 members of parliament, ministry undersecretaries, directors general, and prominent political figures who are under investigation, making it one of the broadest corruption cases Iraq has seen in recent years.
Alongside the judicial track, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al Zaidi, in statements distributed by the Prime Minister's media office and carried by the Iraqi News Agency, reaffirmed his commitment to continuing the pursuit of those accused of corruption. He said the rejection of legal proceedings was "naturally to be expected from those who are aggrieved and anxious" about them.
Al Zaidi said: "We have exercised no selectivity in dealing with corruption files; this is a criminal matter that has nothing to do with sectarianism, nationalism, or other affiliations."
He added: "There are no red lines in our efforts to protect public funds, and no exceptions for those implicated in corruption. Those involved in corruption have no option but to return the stolen money, because it belongs to the Iraqi people." He also confirmed that cooperation between the government and the judiciary is "at a high level" and that the shared objective is "recovering our people's money and preserving their rights."
These developments coincide with the launch of the second legislative session of the sixth parliamentary term. The Council of Representatives held its second sitting, during which a number of replacement members of parliament were sworn in, and the head of the National Investment Commission was questioned as part of the council's oversight role.
MP Ahmed Al Saadi, as quoted by the Iraqi newspaper Al Sabah, said the council would proceed along both its legislative and oversight tracks. He explained that its first steps would be to question National Investment Commission officials, followed by the questioning of other officials once legal requirements are met, stressing that the questioning sessions "will be professional and free of political manoeuvring."
For his part, MP Mohammed Al Khafaji, according to the same newspaper, said the Council of Representatives' oversight role represents one of the most important tools for combating corruption. He noted that the prime minister enjoys the support of the judiciary, the Council of Representatives, and a number of political forces on this matter.
In a related context, Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi affirmed that his government is pressing ahead with confining weapons to state control. He said dialogue with armed factions aims at transitioning their activities to political and social work, and that weapons will be "completely monopolised" by state institutions and security forces once the specified deadline has passed.
These statements come as the government insists its efforts are not limited to pursuing corruption files but also include strengthening state authority and consolidating its monopoly over security and military decision-making. On the economic front, the Iraqi government announced the resumption of US dollar cash shipments to Baghdad after a period of delay, attributing this to logistical obstacles arising from the security situation and air navigation conditions in the region.
The government spokesperson said the step represents a positive indicator of continuing economic cooperation between Baghdad and Washington, ahead of an anticipated visit by the prime minister to the United States, which is expected to focus on economic partnership and attracting investment.