Iraq intends to request that Interpol issue "international arrest warrants" against senior former officials, including a former Minister of Finance and a former head of intelligence, in connection with the case of stolen tax deposits exceeding $2.5 billion. According to Iraqi officials, the scandal revolves around unauthorized cash withdrawals from the country's General Tax Authority in 2021 and 2022, totaling approximately $2.5 billion, a significant sum even for a country frequently ranked among the most corrupt in the world.
On Sunday, Hayder Hanon, head of the Integrity Commission, announced efforts to organize Interpol "red notices" for the wanted individuals. Hanon stated that the judiciary will also request red notices for the special secretary and political advisor to former Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi. Both Al-Kadhimi and former Finance Minister Ali Allawi have denied any involvement in the corruption that allegedly came to light late last year after a new government took office.
Allawi resigned from his position in August 2022, citing political interference in government operations and illicit gain. He later stated that he took measures to prevent theft at the General Tax Authority, but other officials ignored his decisions. Reuters has not yet been able to reach the other officials for comments.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani indicated that he prioritizes combating the rampant corruption in the country, which has led to the theft of countless billions from the nation's oil wealth over the years. Hanon pointed out that Iraq is seeking to repatriate those involved in the theft from several countries, including the UAE, Turkey, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, and has called on the United States and the United Kingdom to "extradite the fleeing defendants."
Hanon noted that each of the individuals wanted in "The Heist of the Century" is linked to an acquisition of no less than 100 billion Iraqi dinars ($77 million). He added that "the crime is substantial, and the number of defendants exceeds 48."
