Al-Asadi acknowledges seized funds: Cooperating with judiciary

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Former Iraqi minister Ahmed al-Asadi acknowledged on Mondaythat authorities had recently seized funds linked to him, stating that he iscooperating with judicial authorities investigating the alleged corruptioncases.

In an audio recording, al-Asadi explained that he wasoutside Iraq for medical treatment when an action by a close associate raisedsuspicions of corruption and possible violations, prompting relevantauthorities to begin legal procedures.

"Despite the campaign against me, I remained silent outof concern that it could affect the investigations and judicial process,"al-Asadi said, adding that he had opened all his offices and made all filesavailable to the authorities to establish the facts.

Al-Asadi vowed that he would continue cooperating with thejudiciary, rejecting reports by some lawmakers that there was an intention toarrest him. "The statements by some MPs about my possible arrest areinaccurate. I am not wanted, and no arrest warrant has been issued against me."  He also affirmed that the funds found by authorities were"legitimate and legal" and supported by documents, saying their valuewas lower than figures previously reported.

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