Former Iraqi MP and son convicted

The Iraqi parliament withdrew Jubouri's parliamentary immunity

An Iraqi court has convicted a fugitive former Sunni Arab member of parliament of corruption, and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

Mishaan al-Jubouri was found guilty of embezzling millions of dollars from funds allocated for the protection of Iraq's oil industry.

His son, Yezin, was also convicted and received a similar sentence.

Both men were sentenced in their absence after apparently fleeing from Iraq to Syria.

"The Central Criminal Court of Iraq has sentenced in absentia former MP Mishan al-Jubouri and his son Yezin for corruption," the court said in a statement.

It added that the case was referred to the court by a government anti-corruption committee.

Last week, the Iraqi parliament withdrew Jubouri's parliamentary immunity, and announced that his seat would be filled by another lawmaker.