Iraq takes custody of officials wanted in corruption probes

Iraq is taking steps to recover funds and arrest those accused of corruption by coordinating actions with foreign countries and Interpol.
Iraqi Trade Minister Abdel Falah al-Sudani (L) and Britain's Business Minister Peter Mandelson listen to reporters during a press conference in Baghdad on April 06, 2009. Mandelson headed a high profile group of British companies into Baghdad, underscoring the huge deal-making potential of the oil-rich country. AFP PHOTO/ALI AL-SAADI (Photo credit should read ALI AL-SAADI/AFP/Getty Images)
Iraqi Trade Minister Abdel Falah al-Sudani (L) and Britain's Business Minister Peter Mandelson listen to reporters during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq, April 6, 2009. - ALI AL-SAADI/AFP/Getty Images
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Adnan Abu Zeed
@adnanabuzeed
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BAGHDAD — Iraq is boosting its efforts to extradite fugitives wanted in corruption cases. On Jan. 25, Iraqi authorities in cooperation with Interpol took custody of former Trade Minister Abdel Falah al-Sudani, who had been extradited from Lebanon. Sudani, a fugitive since 2009, had been tried and sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison for corruption.

Ziad al-Qattan, the former general secretary in the Ministry of Defense, was extradited from Jordan and handed over to Iraqi authorities Jan. 11.​ Qattan is accused of embezzling about $1 billion from the ministry.

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