DUBAI, UAE - Iraq's Anti-Corruption Criminal Court in Baghdad issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday for Noor Zuhair, the primary suspect in the so-called Heist of the Century case, after he failed to appear for a court session for the second time.

Zuhair, a businessman, was scheduled to stand trial on charges related to the massive theft of tax deposits. The court had previously postponed the trial when Zuhair did not attend the initial session, citing a request from his legal team for the delay.

Iraqi MP Mustafa Sanad, who himself is one of the people who has filed a lawsuit against Zuhair, confirmed the court’s decision through a video on his official page, stating that the judge granted a deadline of September 9, 2024, for the suspect to be brought to court by his guarantors. 

The court also issued an arrest warrant for former Iraqi parliament member Haitham al-Jubouri, who is implicated in the same corruption scandal.

Legal expert Maitham al-Khilkhali told The New Region that “the cancellation of Zuhair's bail bond was a routine legal procedure, given his absence.”

Khilkhali warned that the court might issue arrest warrants for those who had guaranteed Zuhair’s appearance in court if no legitimate excuse is provided for his absence.

“There could be a trial in absentia or even a notice issued to Interpol,” Khilkhali said. 

He also addressed public concerns over Zuhair's earlier release, explaining that the judiciary carefully considers all aspects of a case before deciding on bail, especially in high-profile cases involving significant sums of money and public interest.

Zuhair's failure to appear in court follows a public statement in which he vowed to attend the session and disclose the names of officials allegedly involved in the scandal. 

MP Sanad mocked Zuhair’s absence, saying, “where are you? Didn’t you say you’d attend the court session and send us to jail?”

The case has drawn significant public attention since October 24, 2022, when Iraqi authorities arrested Zuhair at Baghdad International Airport as he attempted to flee the country aboard a private jet. 

On July 29, 2024, a member of the Parliamentary Integrity Committee revealed that Zuhair had been released on bail to facilitate the recovery of the stolen funds.

In his first media appearance after his release, Zuhair accused government ministers and parliament members of extortion and attempting to leverage his case for political gain, including the pursuit of top governmental positions. 

He insisted that he would defend himself in court and challenged the accuracy of the financial figures cited by the head of the Integrity Commission.

Zuhair's next court appearance is now uncertain, with legal experts and the public closely watching the developments in what has become one of Iraq’s most significant corruption cases in recent years.