Shafaq News..Former Iraqi MP sentenced over illicit enrichment

On Sep 4, 2026

2026-09-04T12:04:14+00:00

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s Central
Anti-Corruption Criminal Court sentenced former lawmaker Talal Al-Zobaie to
seven years in prison and ordered the confiscation of extensive assets,
according to court documents obtained by Shafaq News on Friday.

The court ordered
Al-Zobaie to repay 5.549 billion Iraqi dinars and $128.961 million in illicit
gains and unexplained wealth, as well as a fine equal to those amounts. The
ruling stipulated that he would remain in custody after completing his sentence
until the payments and fines were settled in full.

The confiscated assets
included properties, cash in Iraqi dinars, US dollars and Jordanian dinars, 10
wristwatches, 17 prayer beads, gold jewelry and several luxury vehicles
registered to or used by Al-Zobaie and his family. The court ordered the
properties and other assets transferred to the Finance Ministry.

According to the
documents dated August 30, the court also froze movable and immovable assets
belonging to Al-Zobaie, his wife and children. He failed to demonstrate
legitimate sources for his wealth and properties, including claims that some
profits came from businesses or companies that had been inactive for years.

Al-Zobaie had not
declared the assets in financial disclosure forms submitted to Iraq’s Integrity
Commission, the court added.

In July, security
forces searched Al-Zobaie’s farm in Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad, and placed its
assets under official custody. According to an official search record, they
included hundreds of buffaloes and sheep, as well as horses, gazelles,
ostriches and other animals. Authorities sealed the farm after the inspection
in Al-Zobaie’s presence.

On June 28, Iraqi authorities launched the nationwide Dawn
Crackdown (Sawlat Al-Fajr) anti-corruption campaign under Prime Minister Ali
Al-Zaidi, targeting current and former government officials, lawmakers,
politicians, business figures and other suspects.

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