Nur Zuheir (right), the Iraqi businessman implicated in the high-profile “Theft of the Century” scandal, and Haitham al-Jubouri (left), another defendant in the case, who previously served as the head of Iraq’s Parliament Finance Committee and an advisor to the former Prime Minister.
Seven targeted
Karkh Court orders arrest of guarantors in Iraq’s ‘Theft of the Century’ case
BAGHDAD — The Karkh Court has issued arrest warrants for the guarantors of defendants Nur Zuheir and Haitham al-Jubouri in the high-profile “Theft of the Century” case, a source within the court confirmed to 964media on Sunday.
The source stated that the judge ordered the detention of seven guarantors—four for Zuheir and three for Al-Jubouri—“due to their failure to appear at the court session.” The court has scheduled the next hearing for Nov. 21.
In legal terms, a guarantor typically assumes certain responsibilities on behalf of another party. These responsibilities can include ensuring the individual’s appearance in court or guaranteeing compliance with legal obligations, such as the payment of fines or compensation.
Zuheir, the main suspect in the $2.5 billion tax deposit embezzlement case, which has been dubbed the “Theft of the Century,” was expected to attend a trial initially set for Aug. 27 but failed to appear due to his absence from Iraq. On Aug. 24, Lebanese media reported that Zuheir had been hospitalized after an alleged car accident in Beirut, suffering multiple injuries, including trauma to his chest, neck, spine, head, and legs. The news of the accident was later removed without explanation, leading to speculation that it may have been staged.
Al-Jubouri, another key defendant in the case, is a former head of Iraq’s Parliament Finance Committee and a former advisor to the prime minister.
In a televised interview on Aug. 19 with Sharqiya TV, Zuheir said he intended to “attend the trial session in Baghdad on Aug. 27” and threatened to “expose names and details related to other corruption cases.” He maintained his innocence and vowed to take legal action against those accusing him of theft, stating, “I will not rest until justice is served.”
Zuheir was first arrested in 2022 but was released after returning only 5% of the allegedly embezzled funds. He has repeatedly denied the charges, describing the case as an “attempt to extort him.” The case, which dates back to 2022, involves five oil companies and several officials connected to former Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
In a recent press conference in Erbil, Iraq’s Integrity Commission chief, Haidar Hanoun, accused Zuheir of forging 114 financial checks. Hanoun stated that Zuheir “should be punished with 114 separate sentences” for these forgeries and claimed that Zuheir was involved in other crimes, including the illegal seizure of 720 dunams of land in the Shatt al-Arab area.