Iraq says it is pursuing billions of dollars in public funds smuggled abroad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council said the country is pursuing the recovery of public funds moved abroad, alongside large-scale domestic corruption investigations. In a related case, authorities seized a large amount of cash from a file involving Adnan Jamili, a former deputy director general at the Oil Ministry's Department of Liquidation Affairs, the council said. The judiciary also announced a mechanism allowing defendants who voluntarily return public money, within legal limits, to receive partial exemptions from certain procedures or penalties. The Ministry of Justice said more than $25 million in Iraqi funds has been recovered over the past two years, and that money, real estate and bank accounts held abroad are being tracked in coordination with the Commission on Integrity and international authorities. Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee member Sekkar al-Muhammadawi said the file is a national priority and urged the executive branch to accelerate tracking efforts through diplomatic channels. Legal researcher Amir al-Daami said a recently signed agreement between Iraq and the European Judicial Network on the sharing of information, defendants and funds is facilitating investigations. Legal adviser Dr. Saad al-Buhati called for stronger international cooperation under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, Interpol and the World Bank's Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative. No further details on the total amount of funds being targeted abroad were immediately available.