Iraq lost over $2T to corruption since 2003, official says

More than $2 trillion has failed to reach Iraq's budget since 2003 because of corruption, Iraqi Prime Minister's Adviser Munir Haddad said.

Report informs, citing INA, that Haddad said the exact number of people detained in corruption cases is not yet known, as arrests are being carried out daily.

He noted that several suspects had tried to leave the country or hide in Iraqi Kurdistan. According to Haddad, the leadership of the autonomous region has handed over eight wanted people to Baghdad.

The prime minister's adviser also said the wife of one detainee had bought an apartment worth $50 million. In addition, several officials who owned more than 50 apartments each, registered in their own names or in the names of relatives, have been arrested.

He stressed that trials of those detained as part of the anti-corruption campaign would be held in open court.

Iraqi security forces earlier detained more than 40 senior officials and lawmakers on corruption charges. The arrests followed testimony by Deputy Oil Minister Adnan Al-Jumaili, who was arrested on the same charges in May.