Iraqi Court Jails Two Lawmakers and Oil Chief in Graft Case

The Iraqi judicial system moved to punish high-profile figures in a major corruption probe on Thursday, sentencing two parliament members and a state oil executive to prison. The rulings target officials who allegedly exploited their positions to secure lucrative contracts for state-owned refineries.

Muthanna al-Samarrai, who leads the Azm Alliance, a Sunni party holding 15 of Iraq’s 329 parliamentary seats, received a six-year sentence. Ziad al-Janabi, a lawmaker from the smaller Tashree party, was ordered to serve five years. State media reported that both men benefited from agreements with the North and South Refineries Companies, which process crude oil and produce petroleum derivatives.

Prosecutors alleged the lawmakers collected commissions to help award contracts to firms connected to them. The court ordered al-Samarrai to repay 30 billion Iraqi dinars, equivalent to $19.8 million. Al-Janabi must return 4 billion dinars, or $2.6 million. Representatives from their respective parties did not immediately comment on the verdicts.

Hussein Talib, the former Director General of the Oil Products Distribution Company, received an eight-year sentence in a related case. His penalty was announced Thursday, though the ruling was issued Wednesday. Talib was found to have intervened in contract awards for personal benefit and must repay 55 billion dinars, roughly $36.3 million.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi pledged to fight corruption after assuming office earlier this year. In June, authorities arrested dozens of political officials, including members of former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s Shiite bloc and associates from the Azm Alliance. The current sentences follow that wave of arrests.