Iraq seeks to extradite former official convicted of embezzling $800m from Jordan

Iraq called on the Jordanian authorities yesterday to hand over a former Iraqi official convicted in absentia of embezzling about $800 million from the Iraqi Ministry of Defence.

Iraq’s Integrity Commission said the Jordanian authorities arrested Ziad Tareq Abdullah Al-Qattan last January, who held several positions in the Iraqi Ministry of Defence, including the post of former Deputy Secretary-General.

The commission added in a statement that the arrest came after Iraq had sent an arrest warrant against him to the public prosecutor, who in turn sent it to Interpol which in turn issued a Red Notice against him.

The Commission added that it had sent an extradition file to the Jordanian authorities through diplomatic means to extradite Al-Qattan.

The Iraqi judiciary sentenced Al-Qattan to more than 180 years in prison and ordered him to return an estimated $800 million which he had allegedly embezzled.