The Heist of the Century
Chronology

Interactive Timeline

Every dated event, tied to a source. Filter by track or year range.

Year range2017 – 2026
Showing 65 of 65 events.
  1. Counter

    PMO (Abadi government) orders BSA pre-audit of all tax/customs deposit refunds after a fraud attempt.

    Sources:
  2. Scheme

    GCT trust account 60032 opened at Rafidain – Tax Authority branch.

    Sources:
  3. Scheme

    Shaker Mahmoud al-Zubaidi assigned director general of the GCT.

    Sources:
  4. Counter

    Dr Ali Allawi appointed Minister of Finance.

    Sources:
  5. Scheme

    Internal GCT correspondence begins moving a CPECC "refund".

    Sources:
  6. Counter

    MoF requests PMO approval to change GCT/Customs directors general.

    Sources:
  7. Scheme

    Forged special PoA: CPECC "GAO WEIHONG" → Ali Mohammad Isaa al-Jaff, notarised.

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  8. Scheme

    Al-Jubouri (Parl. Finance Cttee) requests confining refund audit to the GCT.

    Sources:
  9. Scheme

    BSA letter to PMO endorsing its own removal.

    Sources:
  10. Scheme

    PMO legal dept replies with ambiguous "per the law" wording; Minister's office not copied.

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  11. Scheme

    Shaker orders BSA removed from the refund audit trail — no ministerial approval.

    Sources:
  12. Scheme

    Cheque 22758 (IQD 31.2bn) issued in CPECC's name.

    Sources:
  13. Scheme

    Samir circulates the removal; ministerial order moves Shaker to Customs, Samir acting DG of GCT.

    Sources:
  14. Counter

    Minister forms oversight committee for GCT refunds (Order No. 5); whistle-blower tip reaches Minister's office.

    Sources:
  15. Scheme

    Samir instructs Rafidain to process the Lukoil cheque.

    Sources:
  16. Scheme

    Cheque 23051 (IQD 44,133,732,000) issued in CPECC's name.

    Sources:
  17. Counter

    Minister conditionally approves BSA removal, relying on Parliament/PMO/BSA/GCT positions.

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  18. Coverup

    Integrity Commission report ت5/7079 clears the suspect cheques; sent to GCT bypassing the Minister.

    Sources:
  19. Scheme

    Al-Qanit opens Rafidain account 3505 (al-Wazireya).

    Sources:
  20. SchemeMilestone

    First blood: cheque 23253 (IQD 44,133,732,000) deposited to al-Qanit and cashed.

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  21. Counter

    Samir excused from GCT management at the Minister's insistence.

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  22. Counter

    Complaint reaches Minister: 2,836 staff reassignment orders during 2021.

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  23. Scheme

    Osama Husam Jawdat installed as acting DG of the GCT (after the Minister's choice was threatened off).

    Sources:[T]
  24. Scheme

    Osama begins signing authenticity confirmations for al-Qanit cheques.

    Sources:
  25. Uncover

    WhatsApp tip from Rafidain internal audit head to the advisor: new al-Qanit cheques.

    Sources:
  26. Counter

    Minister confronts Osama & Belal; both give false assurances (advisor present).

    Sources:[T]
  27. Counter

    Minister formally demands full 2020–21 refund paper trail.

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  28. Coverup

    GCT list of refunds omits al-Qanit entirely.

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  29. CounterMilestone

    Executive order: no refunds without the Minister's personal audit & signature.

    Sources:
  30. Counter

    Minister alerts the PMO of continuing manipulation suspicions.

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  31. Counter

    Minister demands investigation of CPECC, Lukoil, al-Qanit, al-Mubdioon files.

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  32. Scheme

    Signatory authority on account 60032 changed.

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  33. Context

    Abdul Hasan Jamal replaces Belal Sabah al-Hamdani at Rafidain.

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  34. Coverup

    Osama's reassuring report to the Minister.

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  35. Coverup

    Integrity Commission comprehensive GCT report — silent on refunds.

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  36. Counter

    Rafidain AML warnings to DG (11 Jan, 25 Jan, 14 Feb, 1 Aug) — no action.

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  37. Uncover

    Written complaint: private vehicles hauling cash from the bank.

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  38. Scheme

    Last of the 247 cheques.

    Sources:
  39. Context

    Dr Allawi resigns (Ishtar Gate); knows nothing of the theft.

    Sources:
  40. Uncover

    Acting FM Ihsan Abdul Jabbar briefed by the advisor (via Najati).

    Sources:[T]
  41. Justice

    Karkh investigative court letters 2375 & 2432 — criminal file already open.

    Sources:
  42. Uncover

    Generic ministerial order 3235/33158 creates the audit committee.

    Sources:
  43. Uncover

    The advisor returns to Baghdad, undercover, at his own expense.

    Sources:[T]
  44. UncoverMilestone

    The bank printout reveals the missing trillions; committee asks to be excused; memo to acting FM; Kadhimi: proceed.

    Sources:[T]
  45. Uncover

    Committee audit report reconciles account 60032 and the five companies.

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  46. Coverup

    GCT accounts letter 1631: books still show IQD 3.53tn intact.

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  47. UncoverMilestone

    The report signed at Abdul Sattar Hashim Ali's home; submitted to Parliament, PMO, Integrity Commission; Cleary Gottlieb engaged.

    Sources:
  48. Coverup

    Parliament (Speaker al-Halbousi) removes the acting finance minister — one day later.

    Sources:[M-PR]
  49. Justice

    Case public; UNAMI urges recovery.

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  50. Justice

    Nour Zuhair arrested at Baghdad airport.

    Sources:
  51. Uncover

    The advisor briefs senior US embassy officials with the evidence.

    Sources:[T]
  52. Context

    MP al-Rubaie claims total may exceed $5bn (never substantiated).

    Sources:[M-Shafaq]
  53. Justice

    Sudani displays recovered IQD 182.7bn + $125m; "Nour held ~43%".

    Sources:
  54. Justice

    Parliamentary fact-finding committee report.

    Sources:
  55. Coverup

    Asset freeze & arrest warrants: Allawi, Jouhi, Abbas, Najati; Interpol notices; judge's TV appearance.

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  56. Counter

    Allawi's statement rejecting the charges.

    Sources:
  57. Counter

    Allawi publishes The Dossier (53 exhibits).

    Sources:
  58. Justice

    Nour Zuhair released on settlement (Judge Diaa Jaafar); leaves Iraq.

    Sources:[M-PR]
  59. Justice

    US Fed/Treasury dollar bans on Iraqi banks; K2 Integrity audits CBI transfers; Ali Ghulam's banks barred, Ghulam later sanctioned.

    Sources:[M-PR]
  60. Coverup

    Iraq requests US/UK extraditions of former officials.

    Sources:
  61. Coverup

    Judicial crisis: files with Judge Jaafar inaccessible; judiciary vs Integrity chief Hanoun; "big names" vanish after bail.

    Sources:[M-PR 2024]
  62. Justice

    In-absentia sentences: Nour Zuhair 10y, Jouhi 6y, al-Jubouri 3y; ex-tax authority head 10y.

    Sources:
  63. Justice

    Dr Allawi returns to Baghdad, faces the court; no evidence produced; charges dropped.

    Sources:[T]
  64. Coverup

    Amnesty-law settlement covers Nour Zuhair; reported lifting of property seizures.

    Sources:
  65. Coverup

    "$5bn" figure recycled in press; case dormant; billions unrecovered.

    Sources: