Appeals Court Throws Out Case Against Iraq’s Former Trade Minister

 Former Trade Minister Sudani
Source: MEMRI

Iraq’s Federal Appeals Court dismissed the case against former Trade Minister Abdul al-Falah al-Sudani for administrative corruption. Back on April 28, 2010 the former minister went before a court over charges of abusing the food ration system that the Trade Ministry runs. The charges were dropped for a lack of evidence. The anti-corruption agency the Integrity Commission, which brought Sudani to court, promised to continue on with the case, and said they had a second court date set for the minister over squandering public funds. On September 2 it was announced that the Integrity Commission had failed with their argument before the Appeals Court, and the charges against Sudani were dropped. 

Sudani was one of the most prominent cases of corruption within Iraq. He became Trade Minister in June 2006 as part of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s new cabinet. In May 2009 the Integrity Commission charged the minister, his brothers, and several other officials in the ministry with corruption. When the Commission tried to carry out arrest warrants a gunfight broke out at the Ministry building in Baghdad. Sudani resigned at the end of the month, and was arrested as he tried to leave the country. The Integrity Commission claimed that they had evidence that between $4-$8 billion had gone missing from the Ministry while Sudani was in charge. The Minister and his cronies were believed to be involved in various schemes to steal money from the food ration system by overcharging and stealing goods. Iraq is ranked the fourth most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International, yet no senior officials has ever been convicted or been held accountable for theft or embezzlement. The fate of the other case the Integrity Commission has against Sudani is unknown.

SOURCES

AK News, “Federal Appeals court discharges former Iraqi Trade Minister,” 9/2/10

Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, “Quarterly and Semiannual Report to the United States Congress,” 7/30/10