Iraq recovers 375kg of gold in corruption case tied to ex-oil official
Judicial authorities said the gold was linked to an investigation into Adnan Al Jumaili as Iraq widens its anti-corruption campaign.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council said it has recovered 375kg of gold in a corruption investigation involving Adnan Al Jumaili, the former deputy oil minister for refining affairs. The seizure adds to a widening anti-corruption drive under Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, with authorities pursuing assets they say were taken from public funds.
Judge Dhia Jafar of the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court said 358kg of gold was recovered in an operation carried out with authorities in the Kurdistan region and supervised by Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zidan, according to Al Jazeera. Jafar said another 17kg was seized the same day in a separate investigation, though officials did not release details of that operation.
The council said the recovered gold was transferred to the Central Bank of Iraq’s Issue and Treasury Department. Al Jazeera reported that authorities are trying to locate assets they believe were obtained illegally.
Case linked to former oil official
The investigation centers on Al Jumaili, who Al Jazeera reported was detained in May and formally removed from his post on June 2. Authorities are examining activity dating back to last October, including allegations that he used state resources and government contracts for kickbacks and personal enrichment.
The gold recovery follows another discovery announced by Iraqi judicial authorities last Thursday. In that instance, investigators found 14 billion Iraqi dinars, about $10.6m, hidden in a rainwater drainage pit, according to the Supreme Judicial Council.
Iraqi government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi told Al Jazeera that the assets traced in Al Jumaili’s case alone total more than 127 billion dinars, or about $96m, plus an additional $24m, real estate, vehicles and gold jewellery.
Al Jazeera reported that the broader campaign has led to arrests of several senior officials and the discovery of more than $100m in missing money, along with other valuables, since al-Zaidi took office in May.
Operation Dawn expands
The investigations are part of a government initiative called “Operation Dawn,” which Al Jazeera said is aimed at finding missing or misappropriated state funds. The campaign has also reached members of parliament whose immunity was lifted so prosecutions could proceed, according to Al Jazeera.
Al-Aboudi told Al Jazeera that the campaign is being conducted through judicial procedures and that the government does not base its decisions on suspects’ titles or positions. He said the public wants accountability for those accused of damaging public finances.
Prime Minister al-Zaidi has pledged to pursue those accused of abusing state funds, the Iraqi News Agency reported. The Iraqi Integrity Commission has also prepared files seeking the extradition of hundreds of suspects living abroad and the recovery of assets believed to have been smuggled out of the country, according to Al Jazeera.
Al-Aboudi told Al Jazeera that the commission has circulated a “red notice” to countries that have cooperation protocols with Iraq, seeking the return of wanted suspects and funds.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.