Former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi criticized on Saturday the arrest warrants issued against a former minister who served in his government.
The Commission of integrity had issued the warrants against four senior officials in Kadhimi’s former government, including his finance minister, for their alleged facilitation of the theft of $2.5 billion in public funds, known in the country as the "heist of the century."
The three other men are staff members in the former government.
The four men are accused of "facilitating the embezzlement of sums belonging to the tax authorities," the Commission of integrity said, adding that they would also be subject to an asset freeze.
Kadhimi slammed the warrants, saying they were "selective" and aimed at diverting attention from the investigations.
"They are repeated attempts to cover up the real criminals," he declared in a statement.
The warrants do not name any of the officials, but according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity, they are former finance minister Ali Allawi, the director of cabinet Raed Jouhi, personal secretary Ahmed Najati, and adviser Mushrik Abbas.
Kadhimi defended the former officials, stating they have "fully performed their duties according to the law."
They are not connected to the tax file, "which is evidence that the issuing of the warrants is politically motivated," he went on to say.
The warrants are aimed at targeting political rivals for the purpose of creating media and political uproar instead of actually pursuing the real culprits, he charged
"How can those who exposed the theft be held responsible and those who actually committed it be rewarded?" he wondered.
Moreover, Kadhimi said the arrests were issued by sides that are connected to political parties, and therefore, are not independent.
It is evident that this is part of a plot to target and settle scores with anyone connected to the former government, he added.
Furthermore, he stressed that his government had since its appointment in 2020 demanded audits of taxes. The ensuing probe led to the arrest of suspects, who were referred to the judiciary.
The details of the probe were "transparently and courageously" released to the public, he said.
He demanded that the "honest Iraqi judiciary" carry out its duties with the support of a transparent and just international investigation that would expose the real culprits and put an end to political acts of vengeance.
