An investigation into the alleged manipulation of dollar sales to travelers at a Rafidain Bank outlet inside Baghdad International Airport is still ongoing, according to an official document. The case now includes several additional officials and employees.
A document obtained by dinaropinions.com shows that the Iraqi Ministry of Finance recently ordered more staff members to be added to the investigation and called for legal action against anyone found responsible.
Authorities say the investigation is continuing as they try to understand exactly what happened, how the alleged violations took place, and who is responsible. The goal is to protect public funds and prevent any abuse or wrongdoing.
A source said the Ministry of Finance reopened the case and instructed Rafidain Bank to question 20 officials and employees. The bank scheduled questioning sessions on January 15 and January 22.
According to official documents, those accused were asked to appear before the bank’s investigation committee to give statements about the violations linked to them.
Earlier, Finance Minister Taif Sami had suspended the director of Rafidain Bank, Ali Al-Fatlawi, along with more than 20 officials and employees. They were suspected of manipulating dollar sales at the airport branch and committing other violations. However, Al-Fatlawi was later reinstated after political pressure.
The minister later lifted the suspension of the other employees as well. Some reports suggested the case had been quietly settled due to political pressure and that no penalties were recommended.
Al-Fatlawi returned to his position about 40 days after his suspension. During that time, the employees involved were temporarily transferred to departments in the Ministry of Finance before eventually returning to their original posts.
Sources said the earlier suspension came after accusations of wasting public funds, poor management, and possible manipulation involving dollar sales and gold bullion transactions at the bank.
The decision to reopen the investigation comes as calls grow for stronger accountability and transparency in state-owned banks, especially at the Rafidain Bank branch inside Baghdad International Airport.
Rafidain Bank opened the airport branch in 2025 to provide banking services for travelers.
Another source explained that travelers usually have to book dollars electronically several days before their trip when using the Rafidain Bank outlet. This system is considered more complicated than the process used by other banks and exchange companies.
In many other places, customers can deposit Iraqi dinars and receive dollars on the same day. But Rafidain Bank requires advance reservations through an electronic platform.
At the airport branch, dollars are sold at the official rate of 1,320 dinars per dollar. Some people have called for the bank to switch to direct sales without electronic reservations or strict conditions, but the bank has not changed the system.
The source also noted that Rafidain Bank had previously suspended dollar sales because of corruption concerns and suspected embezzlement of foreign currency. That move led to a broader investigation, but the final results have not yet been announced.
