Former high-ranking Iraqi ministers jailed as courts take tough line on corruption

Iraq’s anti-corruption court issued 26 jail sentences to high-ranking Iraqi officials in a push to eliminate corruption and fraud.

Prime minister Haider Al Abadi announced yesterday that his government had taken crucial measures to stem corruption, which has crippled the economy.

“We have taken rapid steps to tackle corruption, we have arrested and charged a number of corrupt officials,” Mr Al Abadi said.

The sentences ranged from six months to 15 years.

Among the names were the director of transparency and corruption prevention in the integrity commission, Abdel Ilah Khadim Al Aboodi, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Former defence ministry secretary general Bruska Noori Aweys was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Aweys is the brother of Rowsch Nuri Shaways, former deputy prime minister.

Former defence minister Hazim Al Shalan was sentenced to 13 years in jail, while Mohsin Shlash, former minister of electricity, was sent to prison for seven years.

Abdel Amir Baker Khathim, the general manager of the department of finance, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Khathim is the brother of previous national security adviser, Mowaffak Al Rubaie, who lives in London.

One-time minister of agriculture, Sawsan Al Sharifi, was convicted on graft charges and sentenced to five years in prison, while former transport director general Faisal Naji Malo was jailed for seven.

Other sentences include former ministers of oil, trade, youth and sport.

“Those that are corrupt have abused the country’s freedom to serve their own personal interests,” Mr Al Abadi said last week. “Corruption is a scourge and we will work to combat it and to defend justice and prevent corruption from creeping in,” Mr Abadi said.

Despite the billions spent, “there has not been evidence of development … inequality and injustice leads to the destruction of society”.