‘No red lines’ as Iraq presses ahead with anti-corruption drive
BAGHDAD – Iraq’s anti-corruption campaign will continue without political limits or a deadline, a senior legal adviser to Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said on Wednesday, as authorities widened investigations that have already led to the arrest of dozens of current and former officials, lawmakers and other suspects in one of the country’s largest anti-graft operations in years.
Munir Haddad, legal adviser to the prime minister, said investigators were uncovering increasingly extensive corruption networks after confessions by key suspects prompted a series of arrests and daily security raids targeting additional individuals allegedly involved in financial and administrative crimes.
“There are no red lines and no time limit for this anti-corruption campaign,” Haddad said in remarks carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), adding that security operations and judicial investigations were continuing in complete secrecy to prevent suspects from fleeing or destroying evidence.
His comments came days after Iraqi authorities announced the detention of dozens of suspects, including serving and former officials and members of parliament whose legal immunity had been lifted, following testimony by former deputy oil minister Adnan al-Jumaili, who was dismissed in June over allegations linked to the misuse of public funds and unlawful contracting.
Haddad said investigators had yet to determine the final number of people who could face prosecution because the inquiry continued to expand as new evidence emerged.
He said statements by principal suspects had enabled judicial and security authorities to identify additional individuals allegedly involved in corruption schemes spanning multiple government institutions.
Some suspects attempted to flee Iraq or sought refuge in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, Haddad said, adding that the Kurdistan Regional Government had cooperated with Baghdad by handing over eight wanted individuals. He did not disclose how many suspects remained at large.
The adviser said those under investigation include prominent current and former officials as well as members of parliament, underscoring the breadth of a campaign that Iraqi authorities say is intended to demonstrate that no public office confers immunity from prosecution.
Authorities have also uncovered extensive property portfolios linked to some suspects.
According to Haddad, investigators found officials who individually owned more than 50 properties registered either in their own names or under those of relatives, discoveries that he said had become central to broader investigations into illicit enrichment and money laundering.
He estimated that public funds looted since the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein exceeded $2 trillion, describing the scale of alleged corruption uncovered during the latest investigations as “beyond reason and logic.”
“The amounts of money and the assets seized in some cases are difficult to comprehend,” he said.
Beyond allegations of embezzlement and abuse of office, investigators are also examining unexplained wealth accumulated by public officials under legal provisions requiring them to account for the origins of their assets.
Such cases may constitute offences involving illicit enrichment and money laundering under Iraqi law, officials said.
Haddad stressed that all recovered money, property and other assets would be transferred to the state treasury as part of the government’s effort to recover public wealth lost through corruption over the past two decades.
He also sought to reassure the public over the judicial process, saying corruption trials would be conducted openly to reinforce transparency and public confidence.
He emphasised that suspects released on bail would remain subject to prosecution and that release pending trial should not be interpreted as acquittal or dismissal of charges.
“The courts will continue proceedings until final judgments are issued,” he said.
Haddad praised Prime Minister Zaidi’s handling of the investigations, saying he had resisted political pressure from groups concerned that the expanding inquiries could eventually reach additional influential figures.
He said operational secrecy remained essential to ensure suspects could not evade arrest or conceal evidence while investigations continued.
The government has repeatedly pledged to make combating corruption one of its central priorities, arguing that recovering stolen public funds is critical to improving public services and rebuilding confidence in state institutions after years of financial mismanagement.
Haddad said the campaign would continue until all investigations were completed and every individual found guilty had been held accountable under the law, regardless of political position or official rank.