Iraq Gives Amnesty For Those Involved In $2.5 Bil Theft Of The Century

Every Iraqi administration claims that it is fighting corruption and yet nothing of substance is ever done. The latest example of this occurred in January when parliament passed a new amnesty law which exempted some of the most prominent figures in the Theft of the Century.

 

On January 21 Iraq’s parliament voted on a new General Amnesty Law that included Nour Zuhair and others involved in the $2.5 billion Theft of the Century. In December Zuhair was given 10 years in absentia for his role in the scandal. That involved 247 checks being written by the Tax Commission within the Finance Ministry to five fake companies that said they were working for oil companies seeking tax refunds. Zuhair created three of those firms. Some of the money was used to buy property in Iraq while the rest was smuggled out of the country. Zuhair was arrested in October 2023 but then released on bail by Judge Dhia Jafaar. The head of the anti-corruption Integrity Commission Haidar Hanoun accused Jafaar of collaborating with Zuhair. That led to accusations back and forth between the two with Hanoun losing and resigning in October 2024.

 

The firing of Hanoun and the amnesty for Zuhair could’ve been expected as Iraq’s political parties were involved in the theft. In August 2024 a parliamentarian from the ruling Coordination Framework said that if the names of those involved in the Theft of the Century were revealed it would threaten the political system which all but admitted that the elite were involved. Iraq is a kleptocracy where politicians and their allies steal millions of dollars each year with general impunity. The Theft of the Century and the amnesty for those involved is just the latest example of how there is no rule of law in the country.

 

SOURCES

 

The National, “Verdict in Iraq’s $2.5bn ‘heist of the century’ - but where have the rest of the missing billions gone?” 12/5/24

 

Al Rafidain, “Representative for the Coordination Framework: We fear “the ruin of the political process” by revealing the names of those involved in the theft of the century,” 8/4/24

 

Shafaq News, “Iraqi Parliament grants amnesty to key figures in the Theft of the Century,” 1/21/25