The Central Investigative Court says the assets were recovered in coordination with Kurdistan Region authorities as investigators pursue alleged embezzlement involving senior officials.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi judicial authorities, working in coordination with the Kurdistan Region, have seized more than $20 million, 200 million Iraqi dinars and 60 kilograms of gold as part of an expanding corruption investigation involving a senior official at the Oil Ministry.
The Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq said Sunday that the Central Investigative Court for Combating Corruption had taken legal action against Adnan al-Jumaili, deputy minister of oil for refining affairs, and individuals allegedly linked to him.
The investigation has also resulted in the confiscation of seven vehicles, the council said.
Funds Traced in Corruption Probe
According to a statement from the Supreme Judicial Council, investigators traced funds allegedly embezzled from public projects and recovered $20.34 million, alongside the Iraqi dinar funds and gold.
The operation was carried out in coordination with authorities in the Kurdistan Region, underscoring growing cooperation between federal and regional institutions in a case involving substantial financial assets.
The judiciary did not provide details on where the seized money and gold were found or identify the specific public projects from which the funds were allegedly diverted.
Investigators, however, said the case remains active and that efforts are continuing to identify other people allegedly involved.
Senior Official Under Investigation
The judiciary said al-Jumaili was arrested and questioned before making a confession that allegedly implicated dozens of government officials and members of the Iraqi Parliament in the alleged theft of public funds.
The allegations have not been independently established in court, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The case is part of a wider anti-corruption campaign launched in Iraq in recent months, with investigators targeting senior officials and politically connected figures.
Wider Anti-Corruption Sweep
On June 28, 2026, Iraqi authorities launched a major anti-corruption operation that resulted in the arrest of numerous parliamentarians, government officials and political figures over alleged financial crimes.
The Central Investigative Court had previously announced the seizure of more than 100 billion Iraqi dinars, tens of millions of dollars and dozens of kilograms of gold in connection with the broader investigation.
The latest seizure therefore represents another major development in a case that has expanded beyond individual officials to potentially involve a wider network.
Federal-Kurdistan Coordination
The involvement of Kurdistan Region authorities is notable as Baghdad seeks to strengthen cooperation with Erbil on investigations that cross administrative boundaries.
The latest operation also comes as the Iraqi government has increasingly presented its anti-corruption campaign as a central component of institutional reform and efforts to recover state resources.
For the judiciary, the recovery of cash, gold and vehicles provides tangible evidence of the scale of the financial investigation, while the continuing inquiry could expose additional suspects and assets.
Authorities said legal proceedings against those implicated will continue as investigators work to establish the full scope of the alleged corruption network.