Iraqi anti-corruption court jails oil ministry official and imposes multimillion-dollar fine

Iraq's anti-corruption body sentenced Deputy Oil Minister Ali Al Bahadli and former MP Talal Al Zubaie to seven years in prison each, as well as imposing multimillion-dollar fines. The sentences stem from separate cases of alleged illicit gains and money laundering. Al Bahadli was found guilty of receiving "illicit gains" and ordered to return over $20 million to the state, while Al Zubaie faces charges of money laundering involving about 35 billion Iraq dinars ($26.7 million).

Both officials were among dozens detained in June during raids across Baghdad and other areas as part of Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi's anti-corruption crackdown. The investigation against Al Bahadli uncovered $11 million and four billion Iraqi dinars in cash at his residence, with investigators using a drill hammer to break through a wall in a swimming pool building.

US sanctions were imposed on Al Bahadli in May due to allegations of fraudulently mixing Iraqi and Iranian oil, a scheme that allegedly helped Iran evade sanctions. Iraq's Oil Ministry refuted these accusations, describing Al Bahadli's role as enabling "significant corruption" in the country's energy sector. Iraq has seen a surge in arrests and seizures of cash, gold, and vehicles connected to corruption investigations, including another Oil Ministry official, Adnan Al Jumaili, who was also detained early in Prime Minister Al Zaidi's anti-corruption campaign.