Two lawmakers jailed for seven years, including one named in the June sweep

BAGHDAD — The Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court has sentenced lawmakers Alia Nassif Jassim and Ashwaq Salim Hassan to seven years each for illicit enrichment, in the largest sum yet in a case against a member of parliament, the Federal Commission of Integrity said.

Nassif was found to have gained 14.24 billion dinars and $12.44 million illicitly, about $23 million in total at the official rate. She was ordered to return it and fined the same amount again, taking the combined repayment and penalty above 61 billion dinars. She was also given three years for concealing information on her financial disclosure form, with the seven-year term applied. The seizure of her movable and immovable assets was upheld, and the commission can seek compensation once the ruling is final.

Hassan was ordered to repay 2.115 billion dinars and $2.924 million, about $4.5 million, with an equal fine, putting the total near 12 billion dinars. She also received three years for withholding information from her disclosure, with the seven-year term applied, and her assets were seized. The commission did not say when she was detained or whether her case was connected to the June operation.

Nassif is the second of the 15 figures named by state media on June 28 to be convicted. State media said at the time that 47 lawmakers, politicians and officials had been detained in an operation based on information attributed to detained former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili. The list included Azm Alliance leader Muthanna al-Samarrai and lawmakers Ziad al-Janabi, Bahaa al-Nouri and Mohammed al-Karbouli, and the figures could not be independently verified. Nouri was sentenced on Sept. 16 to seven years, ordered to return about $15.4 million.

Karbouli received two years in July for soliciting a $50,000 bribe and sitting MP Hasnain Qasim Mohammed al-Khafaji two years for blackmail. Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij al-Bahadli and former lawmaker Talal al-Zobaie were each sentenced to seven years in August for illicit enrichment, and former lawmaker Kazem al-Sayadi received six months for extortion.