Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council denies reports of 65 visits to detained former oil official

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council on Wednesday rejected reports that a detained former deputy minister at the Oil Ministry's Petroleum Refining Directorate received 65 visits from current ministers, lawmakers and businesspeople. The council said the claims were unfounded and unrelated to the ongoing judicial proceedings against Adnan Jumayli. In a statement, the council said publications alleging that some officials, senior executives and members of parliament had visited the defendant did not reflect reality. It added that the Judicial Council Media Center is its sole official information source and that any statements outside that channel carry no official weight. The council urged the public to disregard speculation that could undermine judicial independence, saying that any announcements on the matter made outside official channels would be considered invalid. No further details on the case or the next hearing were immediately available.