US-sanctioned Iraqi oil official stripped of $14 million in assets

Shafaq News- Baghdad (Updated on Jun 30, at 10:29 AM)

Investigators have seized 1.4 billion Iraqi dinars (about $8.7 million), along with several properties, from detained Deputy Oil Minister for Distribution Affairs Ali Maarij al-Bahadli, Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council said Monday.

In a statement citing the investigative judge at the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court, the council said the assets were uncovered during the initial investigation into al-Bahadli and that the investigation remains ongoing.

Al-Bahadli was arrested Sunday as part of a wide-ranging anti-corruption government-led campaign, named the Dawn Crackdown, that also targeted dozens of lawmakers and government officials, including the head of the al-Azm Alliance, MP Muthanna al-Samarrai.

The official was recently sanctioned by the United States over alleged links to armed groups. The US Department of the Treasury accused him of exploiting his position to facilitate the transfer of Iraqi oil for the benefit of the Iranian government and Iran-backed armed factions.