Court seizes 40 properties, $12m cash in deputy oil minister corruption case

BAGHDAD — An investigative judge at Iraq’s Central Criminal Court for Combating Corruption announced Tuesday that preliminary investigations into the case of detained former Deputy Oil Minister for Refining Affairs Adnan Mohammed Hammoud and associates have led to the seizure of assets across three governorates.

The judiciary said authorities have so far seized approximately 40 properties in Baghdad, Salahuddin and Erbil, around $10 million in cash, 3 billion Iraqi dinars ($2.3 million) and gold jewelry estimated at 1.5 kilograms. Large quantities of light and medium weapons were also seized. Investigations remain ongoing to identify all individuals and entities connected to the alleged crime.

Hammoud, also known as Adnan al-Jumaili, served as Deputy Oil Minister for Refining Affairs and director general of the North Refineries Company. He was arrested on May 29. He had been removed from his position as company head on May 3 by an official order from Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, with Qusay Khalaf appointed as his successor.