Peregraf
Rakan Saeed al-Jabouri, the former acting governor of Kirkuk, has been arrested on charges of misuse of authority and financial corruption during his administration.
Dilan Ghafour, Kirkuk's representative in the Iraqi Parliament, informed Peregraf that al-Jabouri faces multiple legal cases, some of which were previously pursued by lawmakers. "We had filed several cases against him in the past, and he has now been detained on accusations of abusing his authority while serving as acting governor," Ghafour stated.
One prominent case involves improper handling of Turkish aid during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ghafour told Peregraf: "Turkey sent humanitarian assistance to Kirkuk, but the aid was not processed through official government channels, and its distribution lacked transparency."
In 2019, two arrest warrants were issued for al-Jabouri over corruption allegations, including one submitted by MP Ghafour concerning financial misconduct.
Political Background
- 2005: Elected deputy governor by the Kirkuk Provincial Council
- October 2017: Assumed the role of acting governor following the federal government's reassertion of control over Kirkuk.
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Rakan Saeed al-Jabouri's tenure as acting governor of Kirkuk concluded on August 14, 2024, when Rebwar Taha was sworn in as the new governor. Taha, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), was elected by the Kirkuk Provincial Council on August 10, 2024, during a session held in Baghdad.