Jumaili’s office director found with 35 properties and $5.5 million

BAGHDAD — Investigators have seized 7 billion dinars, about $5.3 million at the official rate, along with $5.5 million in cash, 35 properties and six vehicles belonging to the detained office director of former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili, the Supreme Judicial Council said.

The assets are linked to Alaa Mohsen Khalaf, the investigative judge at the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court said. Jumaili himself held about 40 properties according to the initial searches in June — barely more than his office manager.

Jumaili, who was also director general of the North Refineries Company, was arrested on May 29. June searches uncovered around 40 properties in Baghdad, Salah al-Din and Erbil, roughly $10 million, 3 billion dinars and 1.5 kilograms of gold jewellery. Searches through July found more cash and gold concealed underground, inside walls, in water containers and a rainwater drainage pit, along with commercial properties, flour mills and vehicles, some registered in other people’s names.

By Aug. 16 recoveries in the case stood at about 82 billion dinars and $152 million in cash with 484 kilograms of gold. Security sources have said questioning of Jumaili produced more than 100 names, though not all led to warrants or proceedings.