Iraqi defense minister subpoenaed over accusing lawmakers of graft

Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi received a subpoena Sunday to appear in court on the ground of accusing a number of parliamentarians, including House Speaker Salim al-Jabouri, of corruption.

According to the reports, the subpoena was issued after Obeidi was summoned to the parliament on August 1 to respond to allegations of blackmail in the Defense Ministry brought up against him by lawmaker, Alia Nasayif.

During the closed parliament session, however, the defense minister accused Jabouri and at least five other lawmakers, including Nasayif herself, of corruption.

The lawmakers accused the Defense Ministry of wasting billions of dollars in public funds and weakening the country’s armed forces in their fight against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

Obeidi said he was being challenged in retribution for his rejection of corruption, accusing the parliamentarians of seeking to blackmail him in order to pass corrupt deals, including a USD-one-billion catering contract, a USD-2.8-billion accord for armored vehicles, and a USD-421-million pact for American Hummer military vehicles.

SS