Iraq Negotiates with the US to Repatriate ‘Heist of the Century’ Suspects

The Parliamentary Integrity Commission in one of its meetings (the Commission's website)
The Parliamentary Integrity Commission in one of its meetings (the Commission's website)
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Iraq Negotiates with the US to Repatriate ‘Heist of the Century’ Suspects

The Parliamentary Integrity Commission in one of its meetings (the Commission's website)
The Parliamentary Integrity Commission in one of its meetings (the Commission's website)

The Iraqi Parliamentary Integrity Commission announced that the Iraqi judiciary is in talks with its US counterpart to repatriate suspects involved in the theft of public funds, dubbed the "heist of the century”.

In a press statement, Deputy Chairwoman Alia Nusayif said that the Commission and the national judiciary are coordinating with the Interpol to arrest individuals accused of embezzling tax revenues.

Nusayif added that the Iraqi judiciary is in discussions with its US counterpart to arrest those accused of the theft and extradite them to Iraq. She indicated that two of the defendants hold US citizenship.

The head of the Iraqi Integrity Commission, Judge Haider Hannon, had previously called on the US and the UK to extradite officials accused of embezzling tax revenues.

Hannon pressed relevant US and UK authorities to act upon arrest warrants issued against the suspects per Article 316 of the amended Iraqi Penal Code No. 111 of 1969.

He also called on the UAE to hand over the political advisor to the Prime Minister of the previous government, who currently resides on its territory. He requested Türkiye's assistance to extradite a former employee and his wife, previously associated with the Federal Integrity Commission.

-Defendants and bails

Former Iraqi Minister of Oil, Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar, and the Acting Minister of Finance in the government of former Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhimi were the first to uncover the "heist of the century."

Several red arrest warrants were issued against Kadhimi's team amid accusations of embezzlement and illicit enrichment.

The Iraqi judiciary did not issue a red arrest warrant with the help of Interpol to pursue Abdul Jabbar. However, an Iraqi court issued an order to seize his assets.

Shortly before the end of the term of Kadhimi, Abdul-Jabbar announced the embezzlement of taxes estimated at $2.5 billion deposited in the Rafidain Bank. He then announced his resignation from the position of Acting Minister of Finance.

Uncovering the theft, which turned into a public opinion issue, did not acquit Abdul-Jabbar, who was later accused of illicit enrichment.

-Arresting Zuhair

Former Interior Minister Othman al-Ghanimi announced that a unit arrested the main suspect of embezzling tax revenues, Nour Zuhair, the head of one of the five companies involved in the case.

Ghanimi told the media that Zuhair was arrested at the Baghdad International Airport before he escaped on his private jet. However, he was later released on bail after an agreement aiming to recover the funds that he admitted to seizing, estimated at approximately $1.25 billion.

Shortly after assuming his position as Prime Minister, Mohammad Shiaa al-Sudani appeared surrounded by hundreds of millions of dollars and Iraqi dinars to announce the first operations to recover the stolen funds.

-Awaiting the Interpol

The Iraqi government seeks to open corruption files, including recovering smuggled funds and repatriating wanted persons accused of embezzling public money.

The charges include senior government officials, and the judiciary issued contradictory positions towards the defendants.

The Iraqi public questions the validity of the red arrest warrants against the accused outside the country, which may not receive the required response from their countries of residence.

Several suspects hold dual citizenship, and some countries fear political revenge against some since the Iraqi political parties have not finally agreed to identify the main accused and the evidence that convicts them.



UN Says ‘Deliberate’ Choices ‘Systematically’ Depriving Gazans

04 June 2025, Palestinian Territories, Nusirat: Displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive aid amid a shortage of food, in Nuseirat refugee camp. (Belal Abu Amer/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)
04 June 2025, Palestinian Territories, Nusirat: Displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive aid amid a shortage of food, in Nuseirat refugee camp. (Belal Abu Amer/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)
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UN Says ‘Deliberate’ Choices ‘Systematically’ Depriving Gazans

04 June 2025, Palestinian Territories, Nusirat: Displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive aid amid a shortage of food, in Nuseirat refugee camp. (Belal Abu Amer/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)
04 June 2025, Palestinian Territories, Nusirat: Displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive aid amid a shortage of food, in Nuseirat refugee camp. (Belal Abu Amer/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)

The UN aid chief said Wednesday that recent "horrifying scenes" of Gazans being killed while seeking food aid were the result of "deliberate choices that have systematically deprived" them of essentials to survive.

A US and Israeli-backed group operating aid sites in the Gaza Strip announced the temporary closure of its facilities on Wednesday, with the Israeli army warning that roads leading to distribution centers were "considered combat zones".

The announcement by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation follows a string of deadly incidents near the distribution sites it operates.

On Tuesday, 27 people were killed in southern Gaza when Israeli troops opened fire near a GHF aid site, with the military saying the incident was under investigation.

"The world is watching, day after day, horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat," UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said in a statement.

"Emergency medical teams have confirmed treating hundreds of trauma cases. Yesterday alone, dozens were declared dead at hospitals after Israeli forces said they had opened fire.

"This is the outcome of a series of deliberate choices that have systematically deprived two million people of the essentials they need to survive."

He echoed the call by UN chief Antonio Guterres for immediate independent investigations, saying they were not isolated incidents, and the perpetrators must be held accountable.

"No-one should have to risk their life to feed their children," said Fletcher.

The GHF began operations a week ago, but the UN and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with it over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.

Meanwhile the United Nations has described the amount of aid allowed into Gaza, after Israel partially lifted a more than two-month total blockade, as a trickle.

"We must be allowed to do our jobs: we have the teams, the plan, the supplies and the experience," said Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.

"Open the crossings -- all of them. Let in life-saving aid at scale, from all directions. Lift the restrictions on what and how much aid we can bring in.

"Ensure our convoys aren't held up by delays and denials. Release the hostages. Implement the ceasefire."