Investigation continues into the manipulation of dollar sales at Al-Rafidain Bank
Investigation continues into the manipulation of dollar sales at Al-Rafidain Bank
2026-03-12 02:45
Shafaq News – Baghdad
An official document revealed that the investigation into the manipulation of dollar sales to travelers at the Rafidain Bank outlet inside Baghdad International Airport is ongoing, with other officials and employees included in the case file.
A document obtained by Shafaq News Agency shows that a recent letter was issued by the Ministry of Finance ordering the inclusion of additional officials and employees to be investigated and the necessary legal measures taken against those involved in the case.
According to the document, investigations are still ongoing to uncover the full circumstances of the case and determine the extent of the violations and administrative and legal responsibilities, within the framework of the regulatory authorities’ efforts to enhance transparency and prevent any abuses or waste of public funds or citizens’ rights.
A source reported that the Ministry of Finance had reopened the investigation into the manipulation of dollar sales to travelers at the Rafidain Bank outlet at Baghdad International Airport.
The source said that Rafidain Bank, based on a directive from the Ministry of Finance, summoned 20 officials and employees for questioning in the case, indicating that the bank had set January 15 and January 22 for questioning those officials and employees.
Documents issued by the state bank showed that, based on the Ministry of Finance/Inclusion Committee letter No. (629) of Al-Rafidain Bank dated February 18, 2025, official invitations were sent to the accused to attend the headquarters of the Inclusion Committee at the bank to investigate them and record their statements regarding the violations attributed to them.
Finance Minister Taif Sami had previously issued a decision to suspend the director of Rafidain Bank, Ali Al-Fatlawi, and more than 20 officials and employees on suspicion of manipulating the sale of dollars at Baghdad International Airport, in addition to other violations, before he was later reinstated to his position after political pressure.
However, the minister later reversed her decision and lifted the suspension of the employees involved in the case, according to an official document, amid information indicating that the file was settled as a result of political pressure that led to the closure of the investigation and the absence of recommendations for penalties against the accused.
The minister also decided to reinstate Rafidain Bank director Ali Al-Fatlawi to his position after about 40 days of his suspension, while the employees involved in the case were transferred to departments in the Ministry of Finance before being returned to their original positions a few days later, according to informed sources.
An informed source said that the decisions to suspend him came after accusations were made regarding the squandering of public funds and mismanagement, as well as suspicions of manipulation in the cases of selling dollars and gold bullion within the bank.
The decision to reopen the investigation comes amid growing calls to hold those involved accountable and to promote integrity and transparency in the work of state-owned banks, particularly at the bank branch inside Baghdad International Airport.
In 2025, Rafidain Bank opened a new branch at Baghdad International Airport to provide banking services and facilities to citizens.
An informed source revealed at the end of last year that the process of selling dollars to travelers by Al-Rafidain Bank is done through electronic booking days before the travel date, describing the mechanism as more complicated compared to other banks and exchange companies.
The source explained that banks and other exchange companies rely on direct sales, where Iraqi dinars are deposited and dollars are delivered on the same day without complicated procedures, while Al-Rafidain Bank requires its customers to make prior reservations through the electronic platform.
He explained that the dollar is received from the Rafidain Bank outlet at Baghdad International Airport at the official rate set at 1320 dinars per dollar, noting that demands were made to adopt direct sales without electronic reservation or imposing conditions he described as “impossible,” but the bank did not respond to those demands.
The source pointed out that Rafidain Bank had previously suspended the sale of dollars due to suspicions of corruption and embezzlement of foreign currency amounts, which led to the opening of an extensive investigation into the matter, stressing that the results of the investigation are still unclear so far.
shafaq.com
