Nine billion dinars vanish in massive theft in Diyala province

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - A similar incident to the "heist of the century" occurred in Diyala province, where nine billion dinars earmarked for compensating victims of terrorism disappeared from the provincial council. Three employees are suspected of embezzling the funds and have gone into hiding.

According to Iraqi security agencies, the theft of nine billion dinars from the Diyala provincial council mirrored the "heist of the century," as the money was spent via bank cheques. The three accused employees are currently in hiding.

Raad Dahlaky, a member of the Intelligence Committee of the Iraqi Parliament, stated that they are investigating the theft in Diyala and will continue until the motives and perpetrators are uncovered.

The nine billion dinars stolen from the Diyala provincial council were meant for compensating victims of the war on terror. County officials have formed a five-member committee to probe the matter, suspecting involvement beyond the three employees, possibly by a powerful group backing them. The committee has apprehended two individuals on suspicion of having connections with the suspects, with investigations ongoing.

The disappearance of substantial sums of money is becoming a recurring issue in Iraq. The theft in Diyala echoes a major incident in October 2022, where $2.5 billion in customs tax revenue was stolen from Baghdad banks, with only about 400 billion dinars recovered so far.

The Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia’ Al-Sudani for the first time in November announced that his government had been able to recover more than $124 million (182 billion Iraqi dinars).

Described as the “heist of the century,” the enormous sum was withdrawn from the tax authority’s accounts through forged documents in 2021.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani confirmed that part of the embezzled funds had been used to purchase high-end real estate in Baghdad.

Nour Zuhair Jassem, one of the alleged suspects, has been released on bail on the condition of returning the stolen funds.  He was given two weeks to hand over the money to state authorities.  

Jassem was arrested in October at Baghdad International Airport when he attempted to escape the country on a private jet, the interior ministry announced previously.

Iraq is ranked 157 out of 180 countries on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index in 2021.

Between $50-$300 billion has been lost to corruption in Iraq since the country’s long-time dictator, Saddam Hussein, was toppled in 2003 by a US-led coalition.