An Iraqi security force on Thursday arrested Hussein Talib, director general of the state-run Oil Products Distribution Company, on suspicion of involvement in corruption cases, hours before he was scheduled to take the constitutional oath as a replacement member of parliament, a security source said.
Talib’s detention came as investigations into corruption linked to the oil sector widened. The Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court announced Thursday that an additional 14 billion Iraqi dinars, or about $10.7 million, had been seized in the case of detained Oil Ministry Undersecretary Adnan al-Jumaili.
Talib, who heads the Oil Ministry-affiliated company, had been named to replace lawmaker Ammar Mousa as a Baghdad representative for the National State Forces Alliance. His arrest prevented him from taking the oath, the source said.
The National Wisdom Movement, led by Ammar al-Hakim and of which Talib is a member, said it supported measures taken by the government, judiciary and Integrity Commission to combat corruption.
Movement spokesman Hossam al-Hassani said it backed legal action aimed at protecting public funds, adding that an official’s compliance with investigative procedures demonstrated respect for constitutional and legal institutions.
He stressed that “the accused is innocent until proven guilty by a final court ruling,” adding that any legal responsibility, if established, was personal and should not extend to any political, social or institutional entity. He urged against prejudging or politically exploiting the case.
Iraqi security forces last week arrested politicians, lawmakers and senior government officials named in al-Jumaili’s confessions. Security and legal sources described the arrests as the beginning of a broader anti-corruption campaign ordered by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.
Al-Zaidi, who took office in May, has pledged to root out corruption, one of Iraq’s most persistent challenges despite repeated accountability promises by successive governments.
An investigating judge said continued inquiries into the waste of public funds in projects led authorities to discover money hidden in a stormwater drainage pit. Investigations were continuing to identify all members of the network.
Parliament also voted Thursday to dismiss National Investment Commission Chairman Haider Makkiya and refer the relevant files to the Integrity Commission after he failed to attend a questioning session.
Al-Zaidi said his government would fight corruption “without exceptions or red lines,” pursue those involved and recover stolen funds.
Local media also reported that Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein discussed in Kuwait efforts to freeze and recover money allegedly deposited in Kuwaiti banks by corruption suspects, as well as cooperation to identify shell companies and return assets to Iraq.
