Former Iraqi Officials Sentenced to Seven Years for Money Laundering and Illicit Enrichment

Federal Integrity Commission

Federal Integrity Commission's logo.

Iraq's Federal Integrity Commission announced on Sunday that former MP Talal al-Zubaie and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil for Distribution Affairs Ali al-Bahadli have each been sentenced to seven years in prison for money laundering and illicit enrichment.

In a statement received by PUKMEDIA, the Commission said the two convictions were issued in connection with offences involving illicit gains and the laundering of wealth.

According to the statement, the value of the illicit enrichment and wealth laundering attributed to former MP Talal al-Zubaie amounted to approximately 35 billion Iraqi dinars. The court also ordered him to repay around 70 billion dinars, representing the value of the illicit enrichment and an equivalent fine.

The Commission said the illicit gains and increase in the assets of Ali al-Bahadli, Deputy Minister of Oil for Distribution Affairs, amounted to approximately 26.5 billion dinars.

He was ordered to pay 53 billion dinars, covering the value of the illicit gains and an equivalent fine.

Iraq launched an aggressive, high-profile anti-corruption campaign dubbed Operation Dawn (Sawlat Al-Fajr) under Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. The sweeping drive has targeted senior government officials, lawmakers, and business figures, resulting in the recovery of over $300 million in hidden cash and hundreds of kilograms of gold.

Iraqi authorities have recovered over 295 billion Iraqi dinars, $44.9 million and 484 kilograms of gold in connection with the corruption investigation involving Adnan al-Jumaili. Authorities have also seized commercial properties, flour mills, transport trucks, vehicles and other assets linked to the case.

The latest seizure is part of one of Iraq’s largest corruption investigations in recent years. Al-Jumaili previously served as the Oil Ministry’s undersecretary for refining affairs and as general manager of the North Refineries Company, which oversees the Baiji refinery. He was removed as head of the North Refineries Company in late May and replaced by Qusay Khalaf.

Iraqi security forces arrested al-Jumaili on 30 May near al-Ishaqi in Saladin province, shortly after his removal from the refinery post and days after Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered a broad review of government contracts signed under previous administrations. Around $11 million was reportedly found in his possession at the time of his arrest.

Investigators subsequently reported a series of additional seizures linked to the case. In early July, authorities said they had recovered more than 100 billion Iraqi dinars, tens of millions of dollars, gold, property and dozens of vehicles. Some of the assets were reportedly concealed inside plastic water bottles and the walls of properties linked to al-Jumaili in Tikrit. By July 6, the Supreme Judicial Council said the total value of funds seized in the case had reached $121 million.

On 13 July, the Supreme Judicial Council announced the recovery of 358 kilograms of gold directly linked to the al-Jumaili case, in coordination with the Kurdistan Region and under the supervision of Council Chief Justice Faiq Zaidan. A further 17 kilograms was seized the same day in a related but separate investigation, bringing the total recovered that day to 375 kilograms.

Separately, an investigative court specialising in integrity cases in Nineveh ordered the seizure of nine commercial properties, three flour mills and seven transport trucks in Mosul in connection with the investigation. Further seizures, including around 25 billion Iraqi dinars as well as additional gold and cash, were reported in mid and late July.



PUKMEDIA