Skip to content
IRAQ'S CORRUPTION
العربية
Cases

Iraqi Airways: chairman arrested taking a bribe (2017), contract investigations (2024) and IQD 19bn recovered (2026)

In August 2017 the Integrity Commission said Iraqi Airways chairman Samer Kubba had been arrested "red-handed" taking a bribe and denied reports of his release, saying the case had been referred to the criminal court. In December 2024 PM al-Sudani directed the Integrity Commission to speed up investigations into irregularities in Iraqi Airways contracts (the "Green Bird" agreements). On 30 June 2026 the Supreme Judicial Council said a Rusafa integrity investigation court had recovered IQD 19bn (about $14.5m) in a case of manipulated deposit records belonging to the airline.

Period
From August 2017 to June 2026
Sector
Transport and aviationState airline
Kind of case
Criminal prosecution
Jurisdiction
Federal Iraq

How the money moved

Bribery for contracts or approvals, irregular leasing and service contracts, manipulation of deposit records.

What happened

Arrest and referral (2017); ongoing investigations (2024); recovery (2026).

Open questions

  • Verdict in the 2017 case; details of the Green Bird contracts.

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
Samer Kubba (Kabba)
سامر كبة
Chairman/Director-General, Iraqi Airways (2017)Charged or wanted25 September 2026

Sources

These are the documents on which this case rests. Each quote is given in the language of the document.
  1. Asharq Al-Awsat15 August 2017Press reportTier D

    اعتقال مدير الخطوط العراقية «متلبساً بالرشوة»

    Original
  2. Iraq Business News (GardaWorld)17 August 2017Press reportTier D

    Authorities Deny Release of Iraqi Airways Chief

    the investigating judge referred the case to the criminal court
    Original
  3. Al-Aalem Al-Jadeed24 December 2024Press reportTier D

    إخفاقات عقود «الطائر الأخضر» في مرمى النزاهة

    هيئة النزاهة بالإسراع في حسم التحقيقات بمخالفات عقود شركة الخطوط الجوية
    Original
  4. Iraq Business News (SJC)1 July 2026Press reportTier D

    $14.5m Recovered in Iraqi Airways Corruption Case

    manipulation of deposit records relating to financial sums belonging to the airline
    Original