Iraq issues arrest warrant for former Labor Minister Ahmed Esedi

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A Baghdad anti-corruption criminal court has issued an arrest and search warrant for former Labor and Social Affairs Minister Ahmed Jassim Saber Esedi, according to a judicial document dated July 29, 2026. The Karkh Appellate Court's Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Investigation Court issued the order following a complaint filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission through the Baghdad Investigation Directorate. The charge against Esedi centers on the alleged misuse of public resources to generate unlawful personal wealth. The Anti-Corruption Commission submitted documents related to the alleged asset accumulation to the case file, according to the document. Security forces have begun efforts to locate and detain the former minister in line with the court order. The document noted that Esedi retains the right to submit a defense statement at later stages of the judicial proceedings. No further details on his current whereabouts or the specific financial figures under review were immediately available.