The latest corruption news from Iraq – company or government bribes, theft, stealing – brought to you by Iraq Business News
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Sudani's Legacy in Question as New Iraqi PM Clamps Down on Corruption Iraq is being rocked by several high-profile corruption scandals, upping pressure on former premier Muhammad Shia' Al-Sudani (2022-26). Multiple arrests linked […]
9By John Lee. The Federal Commission of Integrity has issued a statement clarifying the background to a criminal complaint before the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court against a sitting member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives. According to the Federal Commission of Integrity, the unnamed MP is alleged to have extorted the owner of a residential […]
By John Lee. An investigating judge at Iraq's Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court has announced that preliminary investigations into a corruption case involving Adnan Muhammad Mahmoud, former deputy oil minister for refining affairs, have resulted in the seizure of significant assets linked to him and associates. The Supreme Judicial Council said the seizures include approximately 40 […]
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Competing Interests Threaten to Undermine Iraq's Resource Diversification Iraq's significant mineral riches remain woefully untapped, with hydrocarbons continuing to dominate Iraq's export-driven economy. As it stands, oil accounts for over 99% of the […]
By John Lee. The U.S. Justice Department has filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking to seize a Beverly Hills mansion allegedly purchased with the proceeds from a scheme to defraud the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The complaint alleges that a defence contractor obtained more than $700 million from DLA for fuel deliveries to U.S. forces […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Commission of Integrity has reported preserving more than IQD 837 billion (USD 640 million) and USD 551 million during 2025 as part of its anti-corruption activities. In its annual report, the commission outlined a rise in investigative, legal, and preventive actions aimed at protecting public funds and preventing waste. Key enforcement and […]
By John Lee. Iraq Fund for the Recovery of Smuggled Assets has reportedly recovered approximately $379 million in Iraqi funds from abroad, according to its chairman, Mohammed Ali Al-Lami. Speaking to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), Al-Lami said the fund is seeking to sign cooperation agreements with international and local institutions to strengthen its […]
By John Lee. The World Bank has imposed a sanction of debarment with conditional release on the Turkish company Aktif Elektroteknik San ve Tic A.S. following findings of corrupt and fraudulent practices in Iraq. It said the company has been debarred for a minimum period of one year and three months. The firm may only be […]
By John Lee. Transparency International has said that Iraq has improved its ranking and score in the global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2025. From a total of 182 countries, Iraq came in at number 136, up 4 places on the previous year. And from a score of 16 in 2013, 2014 and 2015, Iraq […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Commission of Integrity has recovered more than $3 million in embezzled funds belonging to the Baghdad Municipality, following a favourable ruling by the Lebanese judiciary in support of the Iraqi government. The authority said the recovery was achieved through close coordination with the Iraqi Embassy in Beirut, leading to enforcement of […]
By John Lee. Mark Savaya, US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Iraq, has said that corruption must be tackled decisively if Iraq is to achieve stability, arguing that militias are a symptom rather than the root cause of the country's challenges. He identified fake payrolls, fake loans, and fictitious assets as major sources of […]
By John Lee. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has made a series of recommendations on tackling corruption in Iraqi Kurdistan. The recommendations are included in its report on the second phase of the Trial Monitoring Programme on grand corruption cases in the region. Expand Judicial Specialization: Replicate the Fourth Erbil Criminal Court model in […]
