Iraqi anti-corruption court jails oil ministry official and imposes multimillion-dollar fine
Iraq 's anti-corruption body announced on Sunday that the deputy oil minister for distribution affairs, Ali Al Bahadli, and a former MP, Talal Al Zubaie, had been sentenced to seven years in prison and issued multimillion-dollar fines in separate cases. They are among dozens of officials detained in June during raids in areas including Baghdad’s Green Zone as part of a crackdown on corruption…
Iraq's anti-corruption body announced the sentencing of deputy oil minister Ali Al Bahadli and former MP Talal Al Zubaie to seven years in prison and multimillion-dollar fines on Sunday. These high-ranking officials are among several detained during June raids across Baghdad and other areas, as part of Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi's anti-corruption campaign.
Al Bahadli was sentenced for "illicit gains" and ordered to return over $20 million in ill-gotten gains to the state, paying a fine of the same amount. He also faces charges of money laundering totaling about 35 billion Iraq dinars ($26.7 million). Al Zubaie, found guilty of similar charges, was also sentenced to seven years in prison.
Cash worth $11 million and four billion Iraqi dinars was seized from Al Bahadli's home on June 29, according to Iraq's Supreme Judiciary Council. The US has imposed sanctions on Al Bahadli for alleged fraud involving Iraqi and Iranian oil, a claim the Oil Ministry denies. Despite widespread corruption, rare convictions of top officials have been made in Iraq.
Other Oil Ministry officials detained include Adnan Al Jumaili, who was seized $20.3 million in cash, 60kg of gold, and seven vehicles.
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