Iraq seizes more than $26 million and over 60 kg of gold as part of corruption investigations

Iraqi judicial authorities have seized $20.34 million in cash, 60 kilograms of gold and seven vehicles linked to Adnan Al Jumaili, the former deputy oil minister for refining.

Al Jumaili, who also headed the Northern Refineries Company, was arrested in May after a wide-ranging investigation was launched into abuse of office and suspected embezzlement in refinery projects under the ministry’s supervision. The operation has also led to the arrest of senior government officials and lawmakers, while millions of dollars, gold and property have been recovered.

According to prosecutors, contracts and funds earmarked for the modernization and operation of refineries were allegedly diverted through a network of companies and intermediaries. The seizures of cash and gold in Baghdad and Erbil indicate that investigators are tracking assets transferred between federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

In another development, Iraq’s Commission of Integrity Against Corruption announced that it had found around $5.84 million and 1.175 billion Iraqi dinars, equivalent to approximately $770,000, along with gold, at the residence of Khalid Khazaie Attiyah. The latter, the deputy electricity minister for transmission and distribution, was arrested on Friday.

The anti-corruption campaign has so far resulted in the seizure of more than $26 million in cash, over 60 kilograms of gold and other assets linked to government officials.

The Oil Ministry has not yet commented on the latest seizures. Al Jumaili, who was removed from office after the corruption allegations against him became public, remains in pretrial detention awaiting trial.

The developments are part of Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi’s government efforts to intensify the fight against corruption. The government has described the campaign as essential to restoring public trust and protecting state finances ahead of important security and economic deadlines.

Since taking office in May, Al-Zaidi has ordered the arrests and seizures involving several high-profile officials in the oil, electricity and other ministries.

The executive branch has presented the action as an indication of the strengthening of state authority, particularly in sectors where political parties and powerful financial networks have long held influence.