Iraqi lawmaker says 118 trillion dinars drawn from state banks without documentation

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A former Iraqi lawmaker said that approximately 118 trillion dinars were withdrawn from state banks during a previous government for projects and activities, but that no preliminary records or official documents were presented for the spending. The former lawmaker, identified as Amir al-Muammari, said the amounts drawn from state banks reached trillions of dinars and that legal limits were exceeded. According to his account, the funds were used to finance public-sector salaries during a period of financial crisis. Al-Muammari said the reserves and balances of state banks were spent without official approval, in violation of applicable regulations. He called for the file to be examined comprehensively by audit and judicial authorities. The statement said authorities should determine the exact amounts withdrawn, how they were spent and who made the decisions. It also called for the results to be made public and for an investigation into how the liquidity in state banks was used in restructuring processes. No further details were immediately available.