Iraq’s new PM launches anticorruption campaign, but is it enough?

An unusual wave of anticorruption arrests targeting senior officials in Iraq has resulted in the seizure of tens of millions of dollars – rousing public opinion across the country and bringing renewed attention to the decades-long problem of financial corruption. The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council on Tuesday said cash seized in an investigation into alleged corruption linked to detained Oil Ministry Undersecretary for Refining Affairs Adnan al-Jumaili had risen to about $86m. It added that 70 properties, 21 vehicles and about three kilogrammes (6.6 pounds) of gold jewellery had been seized. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list The judiciary said the funds were linked to waste in projects said to be carried out by al-Jumaili and others linked to the case. Al-Jumaili – who was also the head of the Iraqi North Refineries Company – was arrested at his home in the town of al-Ishaqi, north of Baghdad, on May 30 as part of the probe. It came days after the new Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered the investigation of contracts issued by the government in recent years to look for evidence of corruption. The Supreme Judicial Council added that Raed al-Jubouri, the former governor of Salah al-Din governorate – where al-Jumaili is from – was also arrested. Al-Jubouri was the director of health in the governorate at the time of his arrest. …