Iraqi authorities have seized IQD27bn ($20.6mn) in cash as part of an ongoing corruption investigation involving detained former Deputy Oil Minister for Refining Affairs Adnan al-Jumaili and other suspects, an investigative judge at the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court said on July 27.

The judge said the funds were recovered after investigations aimed at tracing financial proceeds allegedly generated through waste and irregularities in projects linked to the former official and other defendants. The cash had been concealed by several individuals. He added that investigations are continuing to identify and apprehend all those involved.

The probe into al-Jumaili has been underway for more than a month and has expanded to include members of parliament and senior officials arrested in various parts of Baghdad, including the Green Zone, during an operation dubbed "Dawn Assault."

Al-Jumaili, who also served as director general of the North Refineries Company and the Baiji refinery, was arrested in May in Salah al-Din province and formally dismissed from his post on June 2.

The former official is accused of overseeing a corruption network within the oil ministry, with the communications minister describing him as the ministry's "whale" and alleging he siphoned funds from four refineries and used the proceeds to finance political parties. The inquiry centres on activities since October and on allegations that he exploited state resources and government contracts in exchange for kickbacks.

Judicial sources say al-Jumaili admitted to financing election campaigns during the November parliamentary elections and implicated numerous public figures during questioning. Authorities detained 47 legislators and officials in a series of raids on June 28, after parliamentary immunity was lifted with the approval of the speaker. Those reported arrested include Muthanna al-Samarrai, leader of the Azm Alliance, and Ali Maarej, deputy oil minister for distribution affairs.

Authorities have previously announced the seizure of billions of Iraqi dinars, millions of US dollars, and gold jewellery and bullion from the homes and farms of officials and politicians allegedly connected to the case. Investigators have found cash hidden in plastic water bottles, inside walls, buried on farms and in a rainwater drainage pit. More than $100mn in cash has been recovered since al-Jumaili's arrest.

On July 13 the Supreme Judicial Council announced the recovery of 375kg of gold linked to the case, most of it in an operation involving Kurdistan regional authorities, which was handed to the Central Bank of Iraq.

The Iraqi judiciary and the Commission of Integrity have pledged to continue pursuing suspects as part of a wider anti-corruption campaign launched by Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, who took office in May. Some suspects may escape punishment under an amended amnesty law if they return outstanding funds. Iraq ranked 136th out of 181 countries in Transparency International's 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index.