Iraqi presidency denies president’s secretary ‘bribery’ arrest

The Iraqi presidency has denied reports that an official arrested on bribery charges was the personal secretary of Iraq’s President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid.

The Commission of Integrity (COI) arrested Chalak Sabah Omar, a member of the president’s security team, for allegedly accepting a bribe in exchange for a false promise to help secure the release of a prisoner, local media outlets reported. 

Some reports initially described Omar as the president’s secretary, prompting the presidency to issue a statement rejecting the claim.
“The individual in question is a member of the president’s security detail, not his personal secretary,” the statement said.

The presidency also referred to an earlier warning issued in November 2024, in which it had cautioned against security personnel misrepresenting their roles.

It stressed that Omar had acted independently and that President Rashid ordered his suspension and a full investigation.
“The president has instructed authorities to take all necessary legal measures against him and anyone found to be abusing their position,” the statement added.

Despite the presidency’s denial, several Iraqi social media users have circulated a document that allegedly shows Omar signing as the president’s personal secretary.

The New Arab has not been able to independently verify the document’s authenticity.

The case comes amid wider efforts by Iraq’s anti-corruption bodies to tackle bribery and the misuse of official titles within state institutions.

According to Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, Iraq ranks 154th out of 180 countries, with a score of 23, unchanged from the previous year. However, it marks a slight improvement from 2023, when Iraq ranked 157th globally.

Corruption remains deeply entrenched in Iraq, affecting all levels of government. Official figures published in 2022 estimated that more than $400 billion had vanished from state funds since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has repeatedly stated that fighting corruption is his government’s top priority. However, many Iraqis remain sceptical about whether meaningful reforms will be implemented.