Iraq arrests party leader on corruption charges

Iraqi security forces yesterday arrested Jamal Al-Karbouli, leader of the National Movement for Reform and Development (Al-Hal), Anadolu Agency reported.

The agency quoted Baghdad Police Captain Hatem Al-Jabri as saying that a special force linked to the office of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi arrested Al-Karbouli in his home in the Yarmouk neighbourhood of central Baghdad.

Captain Al-Jabri explained that the arrest came after a warrant was issued by the judiciary after he was charged with financial corruption.

Jamal’s brother, Ahmed, was Minister of Industry during the second term of former Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki (2010-2014).

In 2016, Ahmed was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of corruption and abuse of power.

Last week Jamal withdrew his Al-Hal Party from the Iraqi Forces coalition led by Parliament Speaker Muhammad Al-Halbousi and joined prominent Sunni businessman Khamis Al-Khanjar’s Al-Azm alliance.

Last August, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi formed a special committee to investigate major corruption files, and assigned the tasks of implementing arrest warrants to a special force headed by the prime minister.

According to Transparency International, Iraq is among the most corrupt countries in the world.

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