Iraqi trade chief resigns amid corruption scandal
BAGHDAD (AP) – Iraq’s prime minister has accepted the resignation of his trade minister, shortly before a move in parliament to oust him over alleged corruption in his department, the government said Monday.
Trade Minister Falah al-Sudani submitted his resignation May 14. But Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki delayed accepting it to allow parliament to review the allegations, a government statement said.
Those allegations include claims that the minister’s two brothers skimmed off tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks on food and other goods imported by the Trade Ministry.
One of his brothers, Sabah al-Sudani, was arrested this month allegedly trying to leave the country. The other brother, Majid al-Sudani, remains at large. Both were members of the minister’s security force.