At a Glance

• Former Iraqi Deputy Minister was sentenced in-absentia to six years in prison.
• He caused state losses through a flawed 2014 European exhibition contract for the Nimrud Treasure.
• This case is part of a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown launched in June 2026.

An Iraqi court has sentenced former Deputy Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities Sarbast Omar Hassan to six years in prison for causing financial losses to the state.

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Key Statements and Focus Areas

• The Federal Integrity Commission "announced the issuance of an in-absentia prison sentence of six years against a former Deputy Minister of Culture.”
• The sentence stems from “irregularities that marred a contract with a Danish company to exhibit the archaeological Nimrud Treasure in European museums.”

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The commission announced on Thursday that the Karkh Criminal Court's Third Panel issued a sentence against Hassan following an official investigation and judicial referral.

The court handed down the six-year prison sentence following contract violations during the ministry's 2014 agreement with the Danish firm, Exhibition Holding Group, to showcase the ancient Nimrud Treasure in European museums.

The commission stated that the court found the compiled evidence sufficient and compelling to secure a conviction.

Consequently, the fugitive was sentenced in-absentia under Article 340 of Penal Code No. 111 of 1969.

FYI

The sentencing of former Deputy Minister Hassan takes place amidst a massive, high-profile anti-corruption crackdown orchestrated by Iraq's Federal Integrity Commission since June under Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi.

Utilizing rare, large-scale security deployments in Baghdad and key provinces, the commission has executed widespread, early-morning operations to detain dozens of high-profile targets. 

Those apprehended under the widening sweep include Members of Parliament, former governors, municipal officials in Babil, and top former leaders from the ministries of oil and electricity. 

Shifting focus beyond mere prison sentences, authorities are intensely prioritizing financial asset recovery, resulting in the dramatic seizure of millions of dollars in cash and multiple gold bars from officials' homes. 

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