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IRAQ'S CORRUPTION
العربية
Cases

US Global Magnitsky corruption designations of Iraqi figures: two ex-governors (July 2019) and Khamis al-Khanjar (December 2019)

On 18 July 2019 OFAC designated, under Executive Order 13818, two former Iraqi governors for corruption, Nawfal Hammadi al-Sultan (Nineveh) and Ahmed al-Jubouri "Abu Mazin" (Salah al-Din), alongside two militia leaders (Rayan al-Kildani, Waad Qado) designated for human-rights abuse. On 6 December 2019 OFAC designated businessman Khamis Farhan al-Khanjar al-Issawi for "bribing government officials and engaging in corruption", in the same action that designated militia leaders Qais and Laith al-Khazali and Husayn al-Lami for serious human-rights abuse against protesters. The UK added al-Sultan to its Global Anti-Corruption sanctions list in July 2021, noting he was serving a five-year sentence in Iraq.

Period
From July 2019 to July 2021
Sector
Political finance and sanctionsExecutive Order 13818 (Global Magnitsky) corruption prong
Kind of case
Sanctions designation
Jurisdiction
United States

How the money moved, according to the sources

This account is the one given by the sources listed on this page. It is not the finding of a court.

Designations cite misappropriation of reconstruction or state funds, land appropriation and use of wealth to bribe political figures.

What happened

Sanctions in force (no delisting is on record).

Open questions

  • Other Iraqi officials designated under the Global Magnitsky programme or State 7031(c) after 2019.

People and companies

The table lists everyone this case names, with their legal status on the date shown. A status in this case does not carry over to any other case, and an accusation is not a conviction. How to read the status.
People and companies
NameRole in the caseLegal statusDetailAs of
Nawfal Hammadi al-Sultan (Nawfal al-Akoub)
نوفل حمادي السلطان (نوفل العاكوب)
Governor of Nineveh (from 2017 to 2019)Under sanctionsPlaced on the US Treasury sanctions list on 18 July 2019 under the Global Magnitsky programme (corruption); UK sanctions July 2021; reported serving a five-year sentence in Iraq (2021). See Nineveh entry for Iraqi case.25 September 2026
Ahmed Abdullah al-Jubouri (Abu Mazin)
أحمد عبد الله الجبوري (أبو مازن)
Former governor of Salah al-Din; MPUnder sanctionsPlaced on the US Treasury sanctions list on 18 July 2019 under the Global Magnitsky programme. Treasury: removed as governor and sentenced to prison in July 2017 for misusing authority and federal funds and appropriating land; since released.25 September 2026
Khamis Farhan al-Khanjar al-Issawi
خميس فرحان الخنجر العيساوي
Businessman; leader of a Sunni political allianceUnder sanctionsPlaced on the US Treasury sanctions list on 6 December 2019 under the Global Magnitsky programme for bribery or corruption ("has reportedly planned to spend millions of dollars in payments to Iraqi political figures"). No Iraqi corruption conviction is on record.25 September 2026

Sources

These are the documents on which this case rests. Each quote is given in the language of the document.
  1. US Department of the Treasury18 July 2019Sanctions noticeTier A

    Treasury Sanctions Persons Associated with Serious Human Rights Abuse and Corrupt Actors in Iraq (sm735)

    designated two militia figures, Rayan al-Kildani and Waad Qado, and two former Iraqi governors, Nawfal Hammadi al-Sultan and Ahmed al-Jubouri, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818
    OriginalSHA-256 60f6c4c30a70
  2. US Department of the Treasury6 December 2019Sanctions noticeTier A

    Treasury Sanctions Iran-Backed Militia Leaders Who Killed Innocent Demonstrators in Iraq (sm847)

    OFAC designated Iraqi millionaire businessman Khamis Farhan al-Khanjar al-Issawi for bribing government officials and engaging in corruption
    OriginalSHA-256 290b71640eca
  3. 964media (Federal Integrity Commission statement)5 October 2023Official statement reported by the mediaTier B

    الحكم على محافظ نينوى الأسبق بالسجن 15 سنة بتهمة الاختلاس

    قرار حكمٍ حضوريٍّ يقضي بالسجن (15) سنة بحق محافظ نينوى الأسبق، استناداً إلى أحكام المادة (315) من قانون العقوبات؛ على إثر اقتراف جريمة اختلاس أموالٍ مُخصَّصةٍ لإعادة الاستقرار في محافظة نينوى
    Original
  4. Shafaq News5 October 2023Press reportTier C

    الحكم بالسجن المؤقت لمدة 15 سنة بحق محافظ نينوى الأسبق نوفل العاكوب

    أصدرت محكمة جنايات نينوى الاولى، اليوم الخميس، حكماً بالسجن المؤقت 15 سنة بحق محافظ نينوى الأسبق نوفل العاكوب
    Original
  5. Baghdad Today (informed source)9 June 2026Press report (unnamed source)Tier C

    القضاء العراقي يفرج عن محافظ نينوى الأسبق نوفل العاكوب

    أطلق القضاء العراقي، اليوم الثلاثاء، ( 9 حزيران 2026 )، سراح محافظ نينوى الأسبق، نوفل العاكوب ... إطلاق سراح (العاكوب) تم بعد شموله بقانون العفو العام
    Original
  6. Iraq Business News (citing UK Government)26 July 2021Press reportTier D

    UK issues Sanctions against former Governor of Nineveh

    Nawfal Hammadi Al-Sultan is alleged to have misappropriated public funds intended for reconstruction efforts
    He is currently serving a five-year prison sentence in Iraq
    Original

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