"Theft of the Century" suspect severely injured in Beirut car crash
The Iraqi businessman, accused of embezzling an estimated $2.5 billion in tax funds, sustained severe injuries to his spine, neck, and rib cage, along with multiple bruises across his body.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - Nour Zuhair, the primary suspect in Iraq's infamous "theft of the century," was involved in a serious car accident in Beirut, Lebanon, that left him with life-threatening injuries, Lebanese media reported.
The Iraqi businessman, accused of embezzling an estimated $2.5 billion in tax funds, sustained severe injuries to his spine, neck, and rib cage, along with multiple bruises across his body.
He was rushed to a hospital where he received immediate medical attention.
Zuhair is the central figure in a massive corruption scandal involving the theft of tax trust funds deposited by foreign companies in Iraqi government banks.
Several businessmen and influential figures were implicated in the scheme, which involved fraud and forgery.
While most of those accused have fled or been arrested, only a fraction of the stolen funds has been recovered. The theft was exposed shortly before the end of the previous government led by Mustafa Al-Kadhimi.
Despite his legal troubles, Zuhair recently made a defiant appearance in a televised interview, proclaiming his innocence and vowing to attend his trial, which was initially scheduled for August 14th but has been postponed to August 27th due to his absence.
The circumstances surrounding his release from custody remain murky, but it is believed to be part of an agreement with the Iraqi government, aiming to encourage him to sell his assets and return the stolen money.
However, Zuhair's failure to appear in court has raised concerns about his willingness to cooperate. Basra MP Mustafa Sand stated that if Zuhair fails to attend his rescheduled trial, the Iraqi government will seek his extradition through Interpol.
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The incident has sparked widespread discussion and speculation in Iraq, as the public awaits the outcome of Zuhair's trial and the potential recovery of the stolen billions.
