Iraq anti-corruption court warns of blackmail attempts against businesspeople

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Central Criminal Court for Anti-Corruption said individuals are attempting to blackmail businesspeople by exploiting ongoing corruption investigations. The investigating judge handling the case of detained defendant Adnan Mohammed Hammoud al-Jamali stated that people spreading unfounded information about businesspeople under investigation are affiliated with official or unofficial bodies. The court warned that anyone disseminating misleading information or impersonating an official institution will face strict legal action. It urged citizens to disregard unverified claims tied to corruption cases and to rely solely on official judicial statements. The judge said the warning followed the circulation of baseless allegations during the al-Jamali case, which have been used to pressure businesspeople. The court did not specify the number of complaints received or the names of the individuals targeted. Legal and human rights circles described the court's statement as an important step toward judicial transparency. Experts said early notification of pending corruption cases can help protect businesspeople and investors from blackmail attempts, and civil society representatives called on citizens to report suspected cases of pressure to the judicial authorities.