Iraq’s new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has vowed to press ahead with an anti-corruption crackdown after several senior officials and lawmakers were arrested in weekend raids in Baghdad's government district.
Anyone in possession of public funds must return them to the state, al-Zaidi was quoted as saying by the INA news agency on Monday.
"The people's money must be returned to its rightful owners," he added. He stressed that corrupt officials in his government enjoy "no immunity whatsoever," hinting at further arrests, and said the recent operations were "only the first phase."
According to official figures, 47 people were detained in the early hours of Sunday following a confession by former deputy oil minister Adnan al-Jumaili.
Authorities said that investigators have so far seized cash equivalent to around $85 million, as well as dozens of properties, vehicles, gold, weapons and ammunition.
Some observers describe it as the largest anti-corruption case in Iraq since the fall of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 2003.
According to the non-governmental organization Transparency International, Iraq continues to face widespread corruption. In its latest Corruption Perceptions Index, the country ranked 136th out of 182, reflecting persistent challenges in detecting and prosecuting graft.
The oil sector is particularly affected, with experts describing a long-standing system of entrenched corruption linked to the political elite.
