Iraqi anti-corruption court jails oil ministry official and former MP

Iraq's Commission of Integrity announced that Ali Al Bahadli, the deputy oil minister for distribution affairs, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for illicit gains. The court ruled that he must return over $20 million in ill-gotten gains to the state and pay an equivalent amount as a fine. During a raid on his home in June, investigators discovered $11 million and four billion Iraqi dinars hidden behind a wall in a swimming pool building. Images released by the Supreme Judiciary Council showed suitcases filled with cash and a Rolex watch. In May, the US sanctioned Al Bahadli, accusing him of fraudulently mixing Iraqi and Iranian oil to help Tehran evade sanctions, an allegation the Iraqi Oil Ministry denied. In a separate case, former MP Talal Al Zubaie was also sentenced to seven years in prison for illicit gains and money laundering amounting to approximately 35 billion Iraqi dinars ($26.7 million), and was ordered to pay an equal amount in fines. These convictions are part of a broader anti-corruption crackdown. Authorities recently reported the seizure of $20.3 million in cash, 60kg of gold, and seven vehicles linked to Adnan Al Jumaili, another deputy oil minister for refining affairs, who was detained earlier in the campaign.