Integrity Commission chief Radhi al-Radhi's resignation and testimony alleging political obstruction (2007)
Judge Radhi Hamza al-Radhi headed the Commission of Public Integrity from 2004 to 2007, pursuing cases including the Ministry of Defence procurement scandal. In September 2007, while in the US, he asked PM Nouri al-Maliki to accept his resignation, citing political pressure and government attempts to limit the commission's scope and close cases; he testified to the US House Oversight Committee on 4 October 2007 ("Assessing the State of Iraqi Corruption"). He remained in the US. His account became a reference point for later criticism of interference, including the use of Article 136(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which let ministers block prosecution of their staff until parliament repealed it in April 2011.
- Period
- From 2004 to October 2007
- Sector
- Anti-corruption system and asset recoveryIndependence of the Commission of Public Integrity
- Kind of case
- Official statement or estimate
- Jurisdiction
- More than one jurisdiction
How the money moved, according to the sources
Political protection: ministerial vetoes over prosecutions (Art. 136(b)), pressure on investigators, and selective enforcement.
What happened
Resignation; commission leadership changed; Article 136(b) repealed April 2011 (see Legal shields for corruption: Article 136(b) ministerial veto (to 2011) and general amnesty laws (2008, 2016, 2025 amendment)).
People and companies
| Name | Role in the case | Legal status | Detail | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radhi Hamza al-Radhi راضي حمزة الراضي | Head of the Commission of Public Integrity (from 2004 to 2007) | Not charged as of the date of writing | Resigned citing political pressure (September 2007). | 25 September 2026 |
Sources
- The New York Times (Alissa J. Rubin)7 September 2007Press reportTier D
Blaming Politics, Iraqi Antigraft Official Vows to Quit
OriginalArchived copycited political pressure as the reason he sought to leave his job