Ex-finance minister denies rumors of arrest in graft sweep

BAGHDAD — The media office of former Finance Minister Taif Sami denied on Monday that she had been arrested or fled the country in connection with the government’s anti-corruption campaign, after rumors to that effect spread across social media and into some broadcast coverage.

Claims that Sami had left Iraq or been detained in the operation launched by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi were “completely false” and rested on no official or credible source, her office said in a statement. It said it would pursue legal action against anyone spreading the allegations without official sourcing, and urged Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission to act against what it called misleading reports.

The office called on news organizations, analysts and social media users to verify information through official channels before publishing.

Sami served as finance minister in the government of former Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani from August 2022 until the change of government in 2026. Her name circulated in rumors and analyst commentary over the weekend as authorities carried out the wider sweep, though she was not among those officially named.

The denial follows the operation announced Sunday, in which authorities said 47 current and former lawmakers, political figures and officials were arrested. State media said the arrests were based on confessions by detained Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili, who was held earlier this month over alleged financial irregularities in the oil sector.

The Supreme Judicial Council said last week that assets seized in the investigation involving Jumaili had reached more than 98 billion Iraqi dinars (about $62.5 million) and $11 million.