Cash found under flooring and in a false ceiling at deputy minister’s homes

BAGHDAD — Investigators seized $5.8 million in cash, 1.175 billion dinars (about $890,000 at the official rate) and gold from several homes belonging to the detained deputy electricity minister, the Federal Commission of Integrity said Sunday, with footage showing money concealed beneath flooring and inside a false ceiling.

A team from the commission’s Baghdad Investigation Directorate found the money and gold at properties belonging to Khalid Ghazai Atiyah, deputy minister for transmission and distribution, after surveillance carried out under a judicial warrant, the commission said. The haul included seven gold bars and other jewellery. Atiyah had already been arrested over corruption allegations. The seizure was documented and the assets and case file referred to an investigative judge.

The commission released video of security forces arriving at one of the homes in black SUVs before beginning the search, showing cash and coins hidden under the floor and above the ceiling.

Separately, the Supreme Judicial Council announced another recovery on Sunday in the case against former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili, of $20.34 million, 200 million dinars and 60 kilograms of gold. Jumaili was arrested in May and successive searches have produced cash, gold and property, including more than $121 million said to have been found buried in plastic water containers at his home in Tikrit. Recoveries in that case now total about 82 billion dinars and $152 million in cash along with 484 kilograms of gold.