Muthanna court refuses to release ex-trade minister on bail

MUTHANNA / IraqiNews.com: A Muthanna court has refused to release on bail the former minister of trade, Abdulfalah al-Sudani, and a number of his ministry’s staff, who have been arrested to answer accusations of administrative and financial corruption. “The court listened to the arguments of Sudani and several other ministry officials, who have been arrested over the same case. The judge has decided to keep them under arrest until next week…,” according to a local judicial source. Sudani is accused of squandering public money and mismanaging his ministry by importing expired foodstuffs. On May 31, Sudani, a 62-year-old dual British Iraqi national, was put in the Samawa Central Prison after he had been brought from Baghdad under police escort. A source from Baghdad International Airport said that Sudani was arrested upon his arrival at the airport after his plane had been ordered to turn around. On its way to the United Arab Emirates, a plane carrying the minister has been returned to Baghdad less than one and a half hours after taking off from the airport. A few days ago, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki accepted Sudani’s resignation, which was tendered on May 14. Sudani was questioned by the Parliament for two days on charges of “administrative and financial corruption.” SS (S) 3