The former chairman of the Sunni Endowment Diwan, Saad Hameed Gambesh, who escaped from a Baghdad prison and was arrested in Mosul yesterday, has raised many questions about the circumstances of his death.
Officials tried to dispel doubts and questions surrounding the case, and confirmed that Kempesh fell ill during his search, “his condition worsened, at which time the accused was transferred to Mosul General Hospital, and a dead person arrived. Death was medically confirmed.”
Officials said: The body has been sent for forensic examination and a team of 3 specialist doctors has been formed for the post-mortem examination. Kempesh, who was sentenced to 4 years in prison on corruption charges, escaped from prison on Wednesday evening at the behest of his sister Rep. Asma Kempesh, according to a statement by the Chief of the Armed Forces.
Footage of Kempesh’s arrest and body injuries circulated, with talk of torture and possible premeditated murder. According to the Ministry of Health’s report, Kempesh suffered a fractured rib. Ignored in the forensic report and by the Health Ministry report, raising further questions.
Salim al-Jubouri, former speaker of the House of Representatives, demanded that the circumstances of Kempesh’s death be disclosed in a transparent and impartial manner. In turn, former Justice Rahim al-Aghili opined in a post that Kempesh “wasn’t killed. He stole, rather he became a burden to the thief…while corruption spread and his money multiplied.” And his influence begins the phase of massacres and liquidation of allies and witnesses.