Iraq probe recovers part of 2.5 billion dollars embezzled from tax office

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Auditors in Iraq have uncovered a massive scheme in which a network of businesses and officials embezzled some $2.5 billion from the country’s tax authority (Iraqi Parliament Media Office via AP/PA)

Iraq’s government has said it will recover part of nearly 2.5 billion dollars (£2.05 billion) in funds embezzled from the country’s tax authority in a massive scheme involving a network of businesses and officials.

Approximately 182 billion Iraqi dinars, or £103 million, of the stolen sum will be recovered through the seizure of properties and assets belonging to a well-connected businessman complicit in the corruption scheme, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s office said in a statement.