Iraq's Corruption
العربيةMenu
The Record

Timeline

This page lists the dated events on the site from 2003 to 2026, in the order in which they happened. Each event comes from one of the site's datasets and leads to its record: the start of a case, a sanction or a ban, a rule issued by the Central Bank, or a change in the legal status of a person or a company.

Each date is given only as precisely as the source gives it. It may be a day, a month or only a year.

The timeline holds 362 dated events: 98 case beginnings, 48 sanctions and enforcement actions, 82 Central Bank rules, 132 changes in the legal status of people and companies and 2 on how the new financial system was set up.

Kind of event
All 139Cases 32Sanctions and enforcement 16Central Bank rules 61Changes in legal status 30
Period
All years 362From 2003 to 2009 45From 2010 to 2019 139From 2020 to 2026 178

2010

  1. 2010Case begins
    Leighton Offshore / Iraq Crude Oil Export pipelines: bribes via Unaoil (Australian prosecutions, from 2010 to 2026)
  2. 2010Case begins
    Warka Bank: depositor run, delisting and Central Bank custodianship (from 2010 to 2013)
  3. September 2010Legal status
    Abdul Falah Hassan Hadi al-Sudani Charges dropped or case closedAppeals court dismissed case (lack of evidence)Status at the date of writing: Pardoned or amnestied
  4. December 2010Central Bank rule
    Exchange companies: capital increase deadline and guaranteesReference: 1806/2/9 (referenced)

2011

  1. 2011Case begins
    Petrofac: failure to prevent bribery to win oil contracts in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and UAE (UK SFO, from 2011 to 2021)
  2. 2011Case begins
    Ericsson's Iraq payments (from 2011 to 2019): internal probe, possible payments to ISIS and Swedish criminal investigation
  3. February 2011Legal status
    Maj. Gen. Jihad al-Jabiri ArrestedArrested on corruption chargesStatus at the date of writing: Convicted (reported)
  4. 23 February 2011Central Bank rule
    Foreign-exchange brokerage companies: licences and IQD 150 million capitalReference: Board session 1465 of 10 February 2011
  5. March 2011Case begins
    Korek Telecom: ICC arbitration finding fraud and corruption against Korek and Sirwan Barzani, and the regulator's 2026 asset seizure
  6. June 2011Case begins
    Trade Bank of Iraq: raid, arrest warrant for its president and disputed allegations (2011)
  7. July 2011Case begins
    Electricity Minister Raad Shallal dismissed over $1.7bn contracts with a non-existent Canadian firm and a bankrupt German firm (2011)
  8. 15 August 2011Legal status
    Warka Bank for Investment & Finance Disciplined by an official bodyDelisted from ISX, shares seized

2012

  1. 2012Case begins
    Parliamentary finance committee (Ahmad Chalabi) dossier: Al-Huda Bank and forged import documents in the dollar auction (from 2012 to 2015)
  2. 6 February 2012Central Bank rule
    Window sales continue; customer disclosure required
  3. March 2012Legal status
    Warka Bank for Investment & Finance Disciplined by an official bodyCentral Bank custodianship imposed
  4. 18 April 2012Central Bank rule
    Certified cheques accepted for the currency auction
  5. 20 May 2012Central Bank rule
    Rafidain Bank sells cash dollars to citizens
  6. 28 May 2012Central Bank rule
    Handover of cash foreign-exchange quotas to companiesReference: 186/2/9
  7. 29 May 2012Central Bank rule
    Private banks start retail cash-dollar sales
  8. July 2012Case begins
    Elaf Islamic Bank: US CISADA sanctions for facilitating Iranian bank transactions, and 2013 delisting
  9. 31 July 2012Enforcement action
    US Treasury: CISADA sanction (prohibition on US correspondent/payable-through accounts): Elaf Islamic Bank
  10. 31 July 2012Legal status
    Elaf Islamic Bank Under sanctionsCISADA designationStatus at the date of writing: Sanctions lifted
  11. 13 August 2012Central Bank rule
    Statement on monetary policy and dollar sales
  12. 28 August 2012Central Bank rule
    Importers must use the 1,189 rate
  13. October 2012Case begins
    Prosecution of Central Bank governor Sinan al-Shabibi and deputy Mudhir Salih over the dollar auction (from 2012 to 2015)
  14. October 2012Case begins
    The 2012 Russian arms package (about $4.2bn) and alleged commissions
  15. 19 October 2012Legal status
    Sinan al-Shabibi Charged or wantedSJC announced warrantStatus at the date of writing: Acquitted
  16. 11 December 2012Central Bank rule
    Board decisions of 6 December 2012Reference: Board session 1492 of 6 December 2012

2013

  1. 17 February 2013Central Bank rule
    Cash sales through the Central Bank windowReference: 29/2/9
  2. 17 February 2013Central Bank rule
    Weekly (not daily) submission of transfer and letter of credit requestsReference: 40/2/9; follows letter 17 of 26 June 2012
  3. 19 February 2013Central Bank rule
    Final accounts deadline for foreign-exchange brokerage companiesReference: 44/6/9; Board session 1493 of 11 December 2012
  4. 22 February 2013Central Bank rule
    Central Bank statement responding to claims about the currency auction
  5. April 2013Legal status
    Maj. Gen. Jihad al-Jabiri Convicted (reported)Reported jailed (media)
  6. 17 April 2013Central Bank rule
    Clarification: dollar purchases by transferReference: 96/2/9; clarifies circular 72/3/9 of 2013
  7. 23 April 2013Legal status
    James McCormick ConvictedThree counts of fraud (Old Bailey)Status at the date of writing: Convicted (reported)
  8. 16 May 2013Central Bank rule
    Ceiling on transfer amount cancelledReference: 15/248
  9. 17 May 2013Sanction lifted
    US Treasury: Removal of CISADA sanction (delisted from Part 561 List): Elaf Islamic Bank
  10. 17 May 2013Legal status
    Elaf Islamic Bank Sanctions liftedSanctions removed
  11. 13 June 2013Central Bank rule
    Three banks commit to lower dollar prices
  12. 25 August 2013Legal status
    Warka Bank for Investment & FinanceCustodianship lifted after court ruling
  13. 21 November 2013Legal status
    Ahmed Abdul Ghafour al-Samarrai Removed from officeRemoved by Council of MinistersStatus at the date of writing: Convicted (reported)

2014

  1. 2014Case begins
    Kurdistan Region independent oil sales: revenue opacity, prepayment debts and funds frozen in Lebanon (from 2014 to 2023)
  2. 2014Case begins
    "Ghost soldiers": 50,000 fictitious names on the army payroll (Abadi, November 2014)
  3. 2014Case begins
    Funds for displaced persons: the Higher Committee for Relief and Sheltering of the Displaced (from 2014 to 2023)
  4. 2014Case begins
    Iraq v. Turkey ICC arbitration: $1.47bn award over Turkey's unauthorised transit of Kurdistan Region crude through the Ceyhan pipeline (from 2014 to 2018)
  5. 2014Case begins
    Former ministers, governors and officials sentenced, from 2024 to 2026 (Integrity Commission statements)
  6. 22 January 2014Central Bank rule
    Reporting to the Central Bank (foreign-exchange brokerage companies)Reference: 18/6/9
  7. 25 January 2014Central Bank rule
    Instructions for the sale and purchase of foreign currency No. 19/3/9 of 2014Reference: S.M. 24/2 (Board of Directors); Instructions No. 19/3/9 of 2014
  8. 21 April 2014Central Bank rule
    Money-transfer companies may open accounts at the Central Bank
  9. 4 September 2014Legal status
    Sinan al-Shabibi Convicted in absentia7 years (reported)Status at the date of writing: Acquitted
  10. November 2014Legal status
    Ahmed Abdul Ghafour al-Samarrai Charged or wanted16 arrest warrants issued, released on bailStatus at the date of writing: Convicted (reported)
  11. 17 November 2014Central Bank rule
    Lower Central Bank commission on dollars for letters of creditReference: Board session 1516 of 30 October 2014

2015

  1. 2015Case begins
    Ghost employees, double salaries and pension fraud in the public payroll (from 2015 to 2021)
  2. 2015Case begins
    Alleged kickback demands in UNDP's Funding Facility for Stabilization reconstruction projects (reported January 2024)
  3. 2015Central Bank rule
    Bank declaration form for window purchase requests
  4. 2015Central Bank rule
    Instructions No. 8 of 2015 regulating foreign-exchange brokerage companiesReference: cover letter number illegible in the document; Instructions No. 8 of 2015
  5. 18 January 2015Legal status
    Sinan al-Shabibi AcquittedRetrial; released (per parliamentary committee)
  6. 1 February 2015Central Bank rule
    Central Bank decisions to support the economy
  7. 8 February 2015Central Bank rule
    Instructions for the sale and purchase of foreign currency No. 26/3/9 of 2015Reference: 26/3/9 of 2015 (date per the 2017 cancellation clause); effective 23 February 2015
  8. 19 February 2015Central Bank rule
    Amendment to foreign-exchange sale and purchase instructions 26/3/9 of 2015Reference: 48/2/9; follows circular 43/3/9 of 8 February 2015
  9. 15 March 2015Central Bank rule
    New reporting form for foreign-exchange transfer statementsReference: 72/2/9; follows 48/3/9 of 19 February 2015
  10. 26 March 2015Central Bank rule
    Tax and customs deposits on imports financed through the windowReference: 93/2/9; per Prime Minister's Office letter M.R.W/4344/10 of 24 March 2015
  11. 30 March 2015Legal status
    Ziad Tariq Cattan (al-Qattan) Convicted in absentia2 years, Art. 341
  12. 3 April 2015Central Bank rule
    Warning on cash-dollar pricingReference: 126/2/9
  13. 9 April 2015Central Bank rule
    Exchange companies' dollar quota doubled; state banks open sale windows
  14. 26 April 2015Central Bank rule
    Questionnaire on the foreign-exchange windowReference: 120/2/9
  15. 19 May 2015Central Bank rule
    Board decisions of 19 May 2015Reference: Board session 1525 of 19 May 2015
  16. 21 May 2015Central Bank rule
    Deposit period for outward transfers cut to 10 daysReference: 188/2/9; follows 43/3/9 and 48 of 2015
  17. 21 May 2015Central Bank rule
    Money-transfer companies may use the auctionReference: 189/2/9
  18. 20 June 2015Central Bank rule
    Tax and customs deductions on dollar transfers stopped
  19. 22 June 2015Central Bank rule
    Tax and customs deductions on window transfersReference: 201/2/9; follows 93/2/9 of 26 March 2015
  20. 22 June 2015Central Bank rule
    Lifting of penalty (window access restored)Reference: 206/2/9; follows circular 203/2/9 of 18 June 2015
  21. 30 June 2015Central Bank rule
    Deposit period for outward transfers cut to 5 daysReference: 224/3/9; follows 188/3/9 (dated in the text 31 May 2015)
  22. 7 July 2015Legal status
    Ziad Tariq Cattan (al-Qattan) Convicted in absentia2 years, Art. 331
  23. 5 August 2015Central Bank rule
    Stopping dealings with branches in ISIS-controlled areasReference: 257/3/9
  24. 24 August 2015Central Bank rule
    Deadline for foreign-exchange brokerage companies under incorporationReference: 276/6/9
  25. 25 August 2015Central Bank rule
    Entering the currency auction (penalty lifted for one company)Reference: 12774/3/9
  26. September 2015Central Bank rule
    Rules on banks importing foreign-currency cashReference: Reinstates Instructions No. 4 of 2011 on importing foreign currency (Official Gazette 4198 of 4 July 2011)
  27. November 2015Legal status
    Abdul Falah Hassan Hadi al-Sudani Convicted in absentia7 years (Karbala court)Status at the date of writing: Pardoned or amnestied
  28. 14 December 2015Central Bank rule
    Foreign-exchange sale and purchase instructions: correspondent statementsReference: …4/2/9 (number partly illegible in the document); follows 224/3/9, 48 and 43 of 2015
  29. 27 December 2015Central Bank rule
    Exchange-rate changes (Central Bank buy/sell rates)Reference: 416/1/9; follows 153/1/9 and 410 of 2015

2016

  1. 8 January 2016Enforcement action
    Central Bank of Iraq: Barred from the foreign-exchange window and from dealing in dollars: Bank Melli Iran (Iraq branch); Parsian Bank (Iraq branch); Islamic Cooperation Bank for Investment (Islamic Regional Cooperation Bank, Iraq branch); plus about 60 exchange ("intermediation") companies, mostly Nineveh/Anbar/Kirkuk, and Al-Nibal Al-Arabia money-transfer co.
  2. 15 May 2016Enforcement action
    Central Bank of Iraq: Barred from dealing in dollars: Selselat Al Thahab (money transfer, Karbala); Al-Wa'eel (money transfer, Baghdad)
  3. 15 June 2016Legal status
    James McCormick ConvictedConfiscation order £7.94mStatus at the date of writing: Convicted (reported)
  4. August 2016Case begins
    Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi's 2016 accusations of extortion by the Speaker and MPs, and his dismissal
  5. 13 December 2016Enforcement action
    OFAC: SDGT designation: Selselat Al Thahab (money exchange); Hanifa Money Exchange Office
  6. 15 December 2016Central Bank rule
    No plan to change the exchange rate

2017

  1. 2017Case begins
    Nineveh governor Nawfal al-Akoub: reconstruction and displaced-persons funds (from 2017 to 2019)
  2. 2017Case begins
    Qi Card / International Smart Card: IQD 231bn of duplicated pension payments for retirees abroad recovered (from 2017 to 2022)
  3. 12 January 2017Central Bank rule
    Documents required to take part in the foreign-exchange windowReference: 170/6
  4. 15 January 2017Central Bank rule
    Customs declarationsReference: 200/6 (number partly illegible in the document); follows circular 1913/6 of 19 December 2016
  5. 23 January 2017Central Bank rule
    Foreign-exchange window procedures: invoices no longer submittedReference: 291/6
  6. 26 January 2017Central Bank rule
    SWIFT statements no longer required with purchase requestsReference: 324/6
  7. 5 February 2017Central Bank rule
    Topping up banks' balances abroadReference: 425/6; refers to foreign-exchange sale/purchase instructions 26/3/9 of 2015
  8. 13 February 2017Central Bank rule
    Cancellation of circularsReference: 506/6 (signed 2017/2/9)
  9. 20 February 2017Central Bank rule
    Criteria for meeting foreign-exchange purchase requests (external audit)Reference: 850/6; follows 237/4/1/9 of 27 July 2016
  10. 10 April 2017Central Bank rule
    Compliance standard (window classification)Reference: 1077/6
  11. 21 April 2017Central Bank rule
    Foreign bank branches and the foreign-exchange window
  12. 15 June 2017Enforcement action
    OFAC: SDGT designation: Al-Kawthar Money Exchange (Al-Qa'im, Anbar)
  13. 15 June 2017Central Bank rule
    Window timetable change (holiday)Reference: 1864/6
  14. 21 June 2017Central Bank rule
    Same trading company using several banks on one dayReference: 1997/6
  15. July 2017Legal status
    Ahmed Abdullah al-Jubouri (Abu Mazin) ConvictedSentenced to prison (per Treasury); later releasedStatus at the date of writing: Convicted (reported)
  16. 17 July 2017Central Bank rule
    Instructions for the sale and purchase of foreign currency 2017Reference: 2254/6
  17. August 2017Case begins
    Iraqi Airways: chairman arrested taking a bribe (2017), contract investigations (2024) and IQD 19bn recovered (2026)
  18. August 2017Case begins
    August 2017: arrest warrants and a conviction topple the governors of Salah al-Din, Basra and Anbar
  19. November 2017Case begins
    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)

2018

  1. 2018Case begins
    Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij al-Bahadly: US designation for diverting oil to Iran-linked networks and Iraqi illicit-enrichment conviction (2026)
  2. 2018Case begins
    PMF "ghost fighters": payroll-inflation allegations and the unsolved killing of the force's finance chief
  3. 12 February 2018Legal status
    Abdul Falah Hassan Hadi al-Sudani Convicted21 years in three casesStatus at the date of writing: Pardoned or amnestied
  4. March 2018Case begins
    Former Nineveh governor Atheel al-Nujaifi: arrest warrants and sentences in absentia (from 2018 to 2022)
  5. 10 April 2018Legal status
    Atheel al-Nujaifi Charged or wantedarrest warrant over wages paid beyond his powers (case 192/Q/2016/12)Status at the date of writing: Convicted (reported)
  6. 25 April 2018Legal status
    James McCormick ConvictedDefault sentence 842 days for unpaid confiscationStatus at the date of writing: Convicted (reported)
  7. May 2018Case begins
    Al-Bilad Islamic Bank and its owner Aras Habib Kareem: US terrorism-finance designation for moving IRGC-Qods Force funds through Iraq's banking system (2018)
  8. 15 May 2018Enforcement action
    OFAC: SDGT designation: Al-Bilad Islamic Bank for Investment and Finance P.S.C.; its Chairman and Chief Executive Aras Habib Kareem
  9. 16 May 2018Enforcement action
    Central Bank of Iraq: Barred from the foreign-exchange window and dealing in dollars: Al-Ataa Islamic Bank (formerly Al-Bilad) for Investment & Finance
  10. October 2018Case begins
    Luay al-Khateeb: suspended sentence over an $808m Baghdad power-station contract (2022)
  11. 16 October 2018Enforcement action
    OFAC: SDGT designation (all branches worldwide): Parsian Bank (including Iraq branch)
  12. 17 October 2018Enforcement action
    OFAC: SDGT designation: Afaq Dubai (Iraq-based money services business)
  13. 11 November 2018Legal status
    Ziad Tariq Cattan (al-Qattan) Convicted in absentia3 x 2 years consecutively, Art. 340
  14. 13 November 2018Enforcement action
    OFAC: SDGT designation: Shibl Muhsin 'Ubayd al-Zaydi (and three Hizballah officials)
  15. 28 November 2018Legal status
    Abdul Falah Hassan Hadi al-Sudani Pardoned or amnestiedAmnesty applied to one case (Rusafa)
  16. December 2018Case begins
    Kirkuk governor Rakan al-Jubouri: warrants, a travel ban, and a 2025 arrest and bail (from 2018 to 2025)
  17. 20 December 2018Legal status
    Rakan Saeed al-Jubouri Charged or wantedarrest-and-search warrant, art. 340 (spoiled seized goods)Status at the date of writing: Released on bail

2019

  1. 2019Case begins
    IQD 926bn (about $700m) embezzled at branches of Rasheed Bank and the Agricultural Cooperative Bank (announced June 2022)
  2. 2019Central Bank rule
    Preparing the launch of electronic travel cards
  3. 2019Central Bank rule
    Lower guarantee and fees for foreign-exchange brokerage companiesReference: Board decision 15 of 2019, session 1578
  4. 14 January 2019Central Bank rule
    Commission on small-denomination dollar cash deposits abolishedReference: P/K/160/9/3/12
  5. 21 February 2019Central Bank rule
    Cash salesReference: 508/2/6
  6. 24 March 2019Legal status
    Nawfal Hammadi al-Sultan (al-Akoub) Removed from officeRemoved by parliamentStatus at the date of writing: Convicted (reported)
  7. 25 March 2019Legal status
    Saman Ahsani Pleaded guiltyFCPA conspiracyStatus at the date of writing: Convicted
  8. 27 March 2019Legal status
    Nawfal Hammadi al-Sultan (al-Akoub) Charged or wantedNineveh investigation court warrantStatus at the date of writing: Convicted (reported)
  9. 15 April 2019Enforcement action
    OFAC: SDGT designation: Al-Ard Al-Jadidah Money Exchange Company
  10. 12 June 2019Enforcement action
    OFAC: SDGT designation: South Wealth Resources Company (Manabea Tharwat al-Janoob); Makki Kazim 'Abd al-Hamid al-Asadi; Muhammad Husayn Salih al-Hasani
  11. July 2019Case begins
    US Global Magnitsky corruption designations of Iraqi figures: two ex-governors (July 2019) and Khamis al-Khanjar (Dec 2019)
  12. 18 July 2019Legal status
    Nawfal Hammadi al-Sultan (Nawfal al-Akoub) Under sanctionsOFAC E.O. 13818Status at the date of writing: Convicted (reported)
  13. 18 July 2019Legal status
    Ahmed Abdullah al-Jubouri (Abu Mazin) Under sanctionsOFAC E.O. 13818Status at the date of writing: Convicted (reported)
  14. 10 September 2019Enforcement action
    OFAC: SDGT designation: Al-Khalidi Exchange; Saksouk Company for Exchange and Money Transfer; Al Haram Foreign Exchange Co.; Al-Hebo Jewelry Company
  15. 30 October 2019Enforcement action
    Central Bank of Iraq: Barred from the foreign-exchange window and dealing in dollars: Noor Iraq Islamic Bank for Investment & Finance
  16. 18 November 2019Enforcement action
    OFAC: SDGT designation: Sahloul Money Exchange Company; Tawasul Company; Al Sultan Money Transfer Company
Download:timeline.csv.xlsxrules_timeline.csv.xlsxenforcement.csv.xlsx