Judiciary clears PMF intelligence official two days after his arrest

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s judiciary has cleared Abbas al-Yaqoubi of all accusations and cancelled the cases against him, the Popular Mobilization Forces said Wednesday, about 48 hours after Counter-Terrorism Service forces detained him in Dhi Qar.

The PMF described him as its intelligence director for Baghdad Belt Operations and said he was released after a judicial decision dismissing all charges and closing the case. Harakat al-Nujaba also identifies him as one of its intelligence officials.

He was detained overnight Monday into Tuesday at his home in the Fadhliya subdistrict of Suq al-Shuyukh, then transferred to the PMF General Directorate of Security to continue proceedings with the judiciary. Local sources told 964media at the time that tribal and community figures had discussed protests and an open-ended sit-in demanding his release.

Nujaba accused the government of escalating against armed factions over the arrest, said it should have been handled through the PMF rather than the Counter-Terrorism Service, and denied reports linking him to corruption or to threats against Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zaidan. The group said it had contacted Coordination Framework leaders, particularly Hadi al-Amiri, and warned that the government’s actions risked an intra-Shia confrontation.

Reports had also alleged he was suspected of involvement in moving missiles and drones from Iran through Iraq to other countries. Nujaba rejected those allegations. No authority has said publicly what he was arrested for.