Iraq’s parliament have voted to revoke the immunity of Speaker Salim al-Jabouri in a corruption investigation involving him and five other members of parliament, lawmaker Mohammed al-Taei said.
Parliament also voted to lift immunity for two other lawmakers being investigated, according to al-Taei.
Iraq’s Chief Prosecutor filed charges last week against al-Jabouri, four lawmakers and a former member of the parliament after Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi accused them of involvement in corruption and blackmail to finalise deals worth billions of dollars.
A parliamentary hearing on the fate of other suspects in the investigation is ongoing.
Al-Jabouri had asked parliament to lift his exemption from prosecution.
During a parliamentary hearing on Aug. 1, al-Obeidi described the lawmakers’ alleged acts of blackmail to settle arms deals, as well as car purchases and the delivery of food supplies to the army.
Al-Obeidi claimed that al-Jabouri made arrangements for his close circle to handle these deals for him to receive commissions illegally.
The day after the hearing, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi issued a temporary travel ban for all the suspects.
Iraq has seen a series of street protests demanding massive reforms and fight against corruption in recent months.
The corruption allegations come as Iraq has been engaged in a U.S.-backed military campaign to dislodge the Islamic State extremist militia from its stronghold in Mosul, the country’s second-largest city.
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