Iraq detains top defence officials in widening anti-corruption campaign
BAGHDAD – Iraq’s anti-corruption campaign widened into one of the country’s most sensitive state institutions on Tuesday after authorities arrested senior Defence Ministry officials and engineers over alleged irregularities in a military hospital contract worth more than 92.8 billion Iraqi dinars ($71 million).
The Federal Commission of Integrity said investigators detained the director-general of Military Works, senior military officers and five engineers over suspected financial and administrative corruption linked to a contract to renovate, equip and expand the Air Force Hospital in Baghdad’s Rustamiya district.
The arrests, carried out in coordination with the Rapid Response Forces, were based on warrants issued by the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court, the commission said.
Those detained included officers holding the ranks of major general, brigadier and colonel, together with engineers from the Directorate of Military Works.
The commission said its investigation uncovered what it described as serious violations in the awarding and implementation of the contract with a foreign company.
According to investigators, the ministry awarded the project through direct negotiations rather than a competitive tender, while the review also identified inflated prices for several components of the project and repeated amendments that significantly increased its estimated cost.
The commission said investigators prepared legal case files under Article 340 of Iraq’s Penal Code before referring the suspects and evidence to the investigating judge for further legal proceedings.
The case marks the latest development in an anti-corruption campaign launched by Iraqi authorities on June 28, targeting alleged misuse of public funds, illicit enrichment and irregular government contracts.
Since then, security forces and anti-corruption agencies have conducted raids on the homes of lawmakers, politicians and business figures in Baghdad and other provinces, while authorities have detained dozens of current and former officials accused of corruption-related offences.
Part of the expanding investigations has been linked to testimony provided by former deputy oil minister Adnan al-Jumaili, who was arrested following his dismissal in June over separate allegations involving public funds and unlawful contracts. His statements have prompted investigators to re-examine contracts across several ministries and government agencies.
The latest arrests indicate that the campaign has broadened beyond civilian institutions to include Iraq’s military establishment, an area that has historically seen relatively few public corruption investigations despite longstanding allegations of procurement irregularities.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who took office in May, has made tackling corruption a central priority, launching a sweeping campaign that has led to the arrest of senior officials and the recovery of cash and gold allegedly hidden by suspects.
The government says the investigations are being conducted independently by the judiciary, although analysts say the campaign’s credibility will depend on whether prosecutors are able to pursue cases through to conviction and recover misappropriated public funds.
Corruption has long been regarded by Iraqis as one of the country’s most entrenched problems, draining state finances and undermining public services despite the country’s vast oil wealth.