ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The former acting governor of Kirkuk, Rakan al-Jubouri, was detained in Baghdad on Monday by security forces on a plethora of charges, a source close to Jubouri told The New Region.

"The disappearance of an amount of money from two Kirkuk projects is one of the reasons for his detainment," the source said, adding that they are working to release him on bail.

Jubouri is being held on charges of the abuse of power under Article 340 of the Iraqi penal code.

The Iraqi Federal Integrity Commission had previously issued a travel ban and a summons order for Jubouri in September 2020 on charges of corruption.

Dilan Ghafoor, a Kurdish Iraqi MP, confirmed to The New Region that "after an appeal to the Council of Ministers" by them, a probe was launched into Jubouri, which found that apart from abusing power, he "received aid from Turkey without approval from the Council of Ministers, and it is not clear where the money from the aid was spent."

Ghafoor added that Kirkuk governor's chief advisor was charged with corruption, but was able to maintain his post through political connections and favors, which she cited as another charge against the former governor.

Jubouri, an ethnic Arab, was appointed as acting governor of Kirkuk after the elected Kurdish Governor Najmadin Karim was removed from the post following a 2017 assault on the city by Iraqi forces and Shiite militias.