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Cases

Corruption cases in Iraq since 2003

This section holds 98 documented cases. They run from 2003 to 2026. They cover banks and the dollar sale, oil and electricity, customs and ports, defence, local government, religious endowments and the Kurdistan Region.

Each case names the people and institutions involved, with their exact legal status on the date shown: convicted, convicted in their absence, charged, accused, under sanctions, acquitted or pardoned. No one is called a criminal unless a court has convicted them.

Showing 98 of 98
  1. $1.3 millionTier D
    1 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  2. Khalid Ghazay Atiya: Ministry of Electricity official arrested with millions in cash and gold (2026)
    August 2026Electricity and energy infrastructureArrest and ongoing investigation
    $5.8 millionTier D
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  3. Illicit-enrichment and bribery convictions of MPs and senior officials after the 2026 crackdown
    From July 2026 to September 2026Anti-corruption system and asset recoveryCriminal prosecution
    No dollar figure
    7 named · 6 convicted or reported convicted
  4. Rafidain Bank Diwaniyah branch banknote-swap embezzlement (2026)
    July 2026Banking, currency and dollar auctionCriminal enforcement action (arrests)
    $1.2 millionTier D
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  5. Green Zone anti-corruption raids: 47 officials arrested including 13 MPs and a deputy oil minister (from 28 to 29 June 2026)
    From June 2026 to September 2026Anti-corruption system and asset recoveryCriminal prosecution
    No dollar figure
    11 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  6. $10 millionTier D
    4 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  7. No dollar figure
    1 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  8. Cancellation of the $764m Baghdad International Airport redevelopment contract over corruption concerns (2026)
    From October 2025 to June 2026Transport and aviationAdministrative action
    $764 millionTier D
    3 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  9. Audio leak attributed to PM adviser Abdel Karim al-Faisal complaining a bribe was "only $1 million" (November 2024)
    From October 2024 to November 2024Political finance and sanctionsOfficial statement or estimate
    $1 millionTier D
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  10. Head of the Integrity Commission, Haider Hanoun: leaked recordings, a Maysan land plot and an arrest order (2024)
    From September 2024 to October 2024Anti-corruption system and asset recoveryJudicial proceedings (investigation stage)
    No dollar figure
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  11. Members of parliament and a senior adviser: sentences, warrants and arrests (from 2024 to 2026)
    From March 2024 to August 2026Parliament and political officeCourt rulings, arrest warrants and arrests
    No dollar figure
    4 named · 3 convicted or reported convicted
  12. Basra Governor Asaad al-Eidani: parliamentary probe into land allocation and financial mismanagement (from 2024 to 2025)
    From February 2024 to November 2025Local government and reconstructionParliamentary inquiry
    No dollar figure
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  13. Fly Baghdad: OFAC terrorism-finance sanctions (2024) and 2026 delisting of the airline
    From January 2024 to August 2026Transport and aviationSanctions designation
    No dollar figure
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  14. No dollar figure
    3 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  15. Al-Huda Bank: FinCEN Section 311 finding and OFAC designation of its owner (2024)
    From January 2024 to July 2024Banking, currency and dollar auctionSection 311 finding and sanctions on the owner
    No dollar figure
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  16. No dollar figure
    1 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  17. Al-Taif Islamic Bank placed under Central Bank of Iraq guardianship over undisclosed violations (2026)
    From July 2023 to September 2026Banking, currency and dollar auctionAdministrative action
    No dollar figure
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  18. $200 millionTier D
    No one named
  19. Muhandis General Company: US designation for diverting Iraqi government contract funds to Kata'ib Hizballah (2025)
    From February 2023 to October 2025Political finance and sanctionsSanctions designation
    No dollar figure
    3 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  20. Card-based dollar arbitrage: Iraqi prepaid and debit cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks (from 2023 to 2025)
    From January 2023 to June 2025Banking and currencyPress investigation (allegations), with measures by regulators and card networks
    No dollar figure
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  21. Recovering assets moved abroad: Iraq's record from 2023 to 2026
    From 2023 to June 2026Anti-corruption system and asset recoveryOfficial statement or estimate
    $17.4 millionTier C
    No one named
  22. No dollar figure
    No one named
  23. US-driven dollar restrictions and Central Bank of Iraq bans on Iraqi banks (from 2022 to 2026)
    From November 2022 to July 2026Banking, currency and dollar auctionSanctions designation
    No dollar figure
    4 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  24. Subsidised fuel oil diverted via asphalt plants and smuggled through Basra (from 2022 to 2024)
    From November 2022 to July 2024Oil and gasMedia investigation
    No dollar figure
    No one named
  25. $6,860Tier D
    1 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  26. $19.4 millionTier D
    2 named · 2 convicted or reported convicted
  27. No dollar figure
    3 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  28. Sabah al-Kinani, civil-society head and parliamentary candidate: caught taking $30,000 from a director-general (2021)
    From October 2021 to May 2025Parliament and political officeArrest in the act, then release
    No dollar figure
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  29. $2.6 billionTier A
    8 named · 5 convicted or reported convicted
  30. No dollar figure
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  31. Raad al-Haris: former deputy electricity minister and PM adviser convicted of bribery (2022)
    From November 2020 to January 2022Electricity and energy infrastructureCriminal prosecution
    $6,850Tier D
    1 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  32. Committee 29 ("Abu Ragheef committee"): PM Kadhimi's special anti-corruption committee (from 2020 to 2022)
    From August 2020 to December 2022Anti-corruption system and asset recoveryCriminal prosecution
    No dollar figure
    3 named · 2 convicted or reported convicted
  33. Bribery and fake-produce racket at Iraqi Grain Board wheat-collection silos
    From June 2020 to July 2026Trade and food securityMedia investigation
    $1,600Tier D
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  34. No dollar figure
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  35. $300 millionTier A
    3 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  36. No dollar figure
    3 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  37. IQD 926bn (about $700m) embezzled at branches of Rasheed Bank and the Agricultural Cooperative Bank (announced June 2022)
    From 2019 to June 2022Banking, currency and dollar auctionCriminal prosecution
    $697 millionTier D
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  38. Kirkuk governor Rakan al-Jubouri: warrants, a travel ban, and a 2025 arrest and bail (from 2018 to 2025)
    From December 2018 to April 2025Local government and reconstructionArrest warrants, travel ban, arrest and bail (investigation stage)
    No dollar figure
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  39. Luay al-Khateeb: suspended sentence over an $808m Baghdad power-station contract (2022)
    From October 2018 to April 2022Electricity and energy infrastructureCriminal prosecution
    $808.3 millionTier D
    2 named · 2 convicted or reported convicted
  40. No dollar figure
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  41. Former Nineveh governor Atheel al-Nujaifi: arrest warrants and sentences in absentia (from 2018 to 2022)
    From March 2018 to April 2022Local government and reconstructionCourt rulings in absentia and arrest warrants
    No dollar figure
    1 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  42. $20.2 millionTier D
    2 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  43. No dollar figure
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  44. Qi Card: Pension Fund and Rafidain Bank money lent through Qi Card, IQD 5.91 trillion to about 847,000 borrowers (from 2017 to 2021)
    From November 2017 to February 2021BankingOfficial audit findings (administrative), with related convictions reported in the press
    No dollar figure
    8 named · 3 convicted or reported convicted
  45. $14.5 millionTier D
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  46. August 2017: arrest warrants and a conviction topple the governors of Salah al-Din, Basra and Anbar
    August 2017Local government and reconstructionCriminal prosecution
    No dollar figure
    3 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  47. $158 millionTier D
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  48. Nineveh governor Nawfal al-Akoub: reconstruction and displaced-persons funds (from 2017 to 2019)
    From 2017 to July 2021Local government and reconstructionCriminal prosecution
    $64 millionTier D
    1 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  49. Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi's 2016 accusations of extortion by the Speaker and MPs, and his dismissal
    From August 2016 to December 2017Defence and securityParliamentary inquiry
    No dollar figure
    3 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  50. Alleged kickback demands in UNDP's Funding Facility for Stabilization reconstruction projects (reported January 2024)
    From 2015 to January 2024Local government and reconstructionMedia investigation
    $1.5 billionTier D
    No one named
  51. Ghost employees, double salaries and pension fraud in the public payroll (from 2015 to 2021)
    From 2015 to 2021Public payrollOfficial statement or estimate
    No dollar figure
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  52. Former ministers, governors and officials sentenced, from 2024 to 2026 (Integrity Commission statements)
    From 2014 to August 2026Government and public administrationCourt rulings (mostly in absentia)
    No dollar figure
    8 named · 8 convicted or reported convicted
  53. Funds for displaced persons: the Higher Committee for Relief and Sheltering of the Displaced (from 2014 to 2023)
    From 2014 to September 2023Local government and reconstructionCriminal prosecution
    No dollar figure
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  54. $3.4 billionTier A
    No one named
  55. "Ghost soldiers": 50,000 fictitious names on the army payroll (Abadi, November 2014)
    From 2014 to November 2014Public payrollOfficial statement or estimate
    No dollar figure
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  56. Prosecution of Central Bank governor Sinan al-Shabibi and deputy Mudhir Salih over the dollar auction (from 2012 to 2015)
    From October 2012 to January 2015Banking, currency and dollar auctionCriminal prosecution
    No dollar figure
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  57. The 2012 Russian arms package (about $4.2bn) and alleged commissions
    From October 2012 to June 2013Defence and securityParliamentary inquiry
    $4.2 billionTier D
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  58. Elaf Islamic Bank: US CISADA sanctions for facilitating Iranian bank transactions, and 2013 delisting
    From July 2012 to May 2013Banking, currency and dollar auctionSanctions designation
    No dollar figure
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  59. Parliamentary finance committee (Ahmad Chalabi) dossier: Al-Huda Bank and forged import documents in the dollar auction
    From 2012 to October 2024Banking, currency and dollar auctionParliamentary inquiry
    $6.5 billionTier C
    3 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  60. Electricity Minister Raad Shallal dismissed over $1.7bn contracts with a non-existent Canadian firm and a bankrupt German firm (2011)
    From July 2011 to September 2011Electricity and energy infrastructureCriminal prosecution
    $1.7 billionTier D
    3 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  61. Trade Bank of Iraq: raid, arrest warrant for its president and disputed allegations (2011)
    June 2011Banking, currency and dollar auctionCriminal prosecution
    No dollar figure
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  62. $1.6 billionTier D
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  63. No dollar figure
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  64. Petrofac: failure to prevent bribery to win oil contracts in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and UAE (UK SFO, from 2011 to 2021)
    From 2011 to October 2021Foreign bribery (Iraq-related)Criminal prosecution
    $730 millionTier A
    2 named · 2 convicted or reported convicted
  65. Leighton Offshore / Iraq Crude Oil Export pipelines: bribes via Unaoil (Australian prosecutions, from 2010 to 2026)
    From 2010 to January 2026Foreign bribery (Iraq-related)Criminal prosecution
    $1.5 billionTier A
    3 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  66. Warka Bank: depositor run, delisting and Central Bank custodianship (from 2010 to 2013)
    From 2010 to August 2013Banking, currency and dollar auctionAdministrative action
    No dollar figure
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  67. $850 millionTier D
    No one named
  68. $296.2 millionTier A
    3 named · 1 convicted or reported convicted
  69. ADE 651 fake bomb detectors bought by the Ministry of Interior (from 2007 to 2010)
    From January 2007 to July 2016Defence and securityCriminal prosecution
    No dollar figure
    3 named · 2 convicted or reported convicted
  70. $5.3 billionTier D
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  71. Selected convictions of ministers, governors and senior officials (from 2015 to 2022)
    From 2006 to November 2022Anti-corruption system and asset recoveryCriminal prosecution
    $25 millionTier D
    5 named · 5 convicted or reported convicted
  72. $1.5 millionTier D
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  73. No dollar figure
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  74. Unaoil bribery of South Oil Company and Oil Ministry officials for "Master Plan" contracts (from 2005 to 2011)
    From June 2005 to 2011Foreign bribery (Iraq-related)Criminal prosecution
    $17 millionTier A
    9 named · 3 convicted or reported convicted
  75. No dollar figure
    4 named · 2 convicted or reported convicted
  76. Baiji refinery fuel diversion to the black market (from 2005 to 2007)
    From 2005 to February 2007Oil and gasOfficial statement or estimate
    $2 billionTier A
    No one named
  77. $8.7 billionTier A
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  78. $8 millionTier A
    3 named · 2 convicted or reported convicted
  79. Legal shields for corruption: Article 136(b) ministerial veto (to 2011) and general amnesty laws (2008, 2016, 2025 amendment)
    From 2004 to July 2026Anti-corruption system and asset recoveryStructural leakage
    No dollar figure
    No one named
  80. Federal Integrity Commission statistics: cases, convictions, ministers charged and funds recovered (from 2004 to 2021, selected years)
    From 2004 to 2021Anti-corruption system and asset recoveryOfficial statement or estimate
    No dollar figure
    No one named
  81. "Brick Tracker": reported $1.2 to 1.6bn of airlifted Iraqi cash hidden in a Lebanese bunker (Risen/NYT, October 2014)
    From 2004 to October 2014Reconstruction and donor fundsMedia investigation
    $1.2 billionTier D
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  82. Integrity Commission chief Radhi al-Radhi's resignation and testimony alleging political obstruction (2007)
    From 2004 to October 2007Anti-corruption system and asset recoveryOfficial statement or estimate
    No dollar figure
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  83. CPA South-Central (al-Hillah) bid-rigging, bribery and theft ring (Bloom-Stein case)
    From December 2003 to December 2005Reconstruction and donor fundsCriminal prosecution
    $8.6 millionTier A
    5 named · 4 convicted or reported convicted
  84. CPA disbursed about $8.8bn of Iraqi DFI funds to ministries without adequate controls (SIGIR 05-004)
    From October 2003 to June 2004Reconstruction and donor fundsAudit finding
    $8.8 billionTier A
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  85. Former Electricity Minister Ayham al-Samarrai: conviction, Green Zone escape and Interpol case (from 2005 to 2008)
    From September 2003 to April 2008Electricity and energy infrastructureCriminal prosecution
    No dollar figure
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  86. $205.2 millionTier A
    3 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  87. Airlift of nearly $12bn in cash (Iraqi funds) from the New York Fed to Baghdad, from May 2003 to June 2004
    From May 2003 to June 2004Reconstruction and donor fundsParliamentary inquiry
    $12 billionTier A
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  88. Headline estimates of what corruption has cost Iraq since 2003 and Transparency International scores
    From 2003 to 2026Anti-corruption system and asset recoveryOfficial statement or estimate
    $150 billionTier C
    No one named
  89. Electricity sector: tens of billions spent since 2003 with chronic shortages
    From 2003 to 2025Electricity and energy infrastructureStructural leakage
    $27 billionTier C
    No one named
  90. No dollar figure
    No one named
  91. President Barham Salih's "$150bn smuggled" statement and draft Law on Recovering the Proceeds of Corruption (2021)
    From 2003 to May 2021Anti-corruption system and asset recoveryOfficial statement or estimate
    $150 billionTier C
    1 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  92. $7 billionTier C
    2 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted
  93. No dollar figure
    4 named · 3 convicted or reported convicted
  94. $60 billionTier A
    No one named
  95. Custer Battles LLC: False Claims Act liability over CPA currency-exchange contract (from 2003 to 2011)
    From 2003 to September 2011Reconstruction and donor fundsCivil case or arbitration
    $3 millionTier A
    4 named · 0 convicted or reported convicted