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A judge in Baghdad issued arrest warrants on Saturday (March 4) for four former officials from former Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s government for their alleged involvement in Iraq’s massive $2.5 billion corruption scandal, Agence France Presse (AFP) said.
According to an official cited by AFP, the warrants include former finance minister Ali Allawi, director of cabinet Raed Jouhi, personal secretary Ahmed Najati, and advisor Mushrik Abbas.
The four are accused of facilitating the embezzlement of these funds from the tax authority account at the state bank of Rafidain.
At least $2.5 billion was stolen in 2021 and 2022 through 247 cheques cashed by five companies.
Allawi resigned in August 2022 in an act of protest over what he described as widespread corruption.
The Integrity Commission launched an investigation in October 2022 and the Ministry of Finance the same month announced the seizure of assets from five people suspected of the theft.
