Asharq Al-Awsat, London – A prominent Iraqi judicial source has disclosed to Asharq al-Awsat that the original file of the investigations into the assassination of Shiite cleric Abdul Majid al-Khoei in Najaf, 10 April 2003, has dissapeared. The file accuses the young Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr and some of his supporters of carrying out the assassination. It added that the warrant for their arrests also disappeared. Raid Juhi, the investigating judge in Najaf at that time, presently chief investigative judge at the trial of deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his senior officials, issued the arrest warrant.

The source told Asharq al-Awsat that the &#34government of Ibrahim al-Jaafari is behind the disappearance of the original file which indicts Al-Sadr on the bases of eyewitness testimonies and important documents that include a video recording, documentary photos, and medical reports.&#34 According to the source, &#34the file was replaced by another that includes the accounts of those who had no connection with the incident in which they absolve Al-Sadr of the crime, which he personally supervised in the Imam Ali Mosque square in Najaf and which also claimed the lives of cleric Haydar al-Kalidar and Maher al-Yaseri.&#34

The source continued, &#34This file was like the price of Al-Sadr””s support for Ibrahim al-Jaafari in the elections and the reason for his support at present to remain the prime minister of the next government.&#34 Al-Sadr appeared standing next to Al-Jaafari last week in a television recording during the prime minister””s speech in Najaf.

The source pointed out that Al-Jaafari promised Al-Sadr that the Al-Khoei case would be closed, whereas the Iraqi prime minister had previously told Asharq al-Awsat that &#34The file of Al-Khoei was not submitted to us officially. We cannot decide on it even if it is submitted to us because it is a case for the judicial authority.&#34

The source asserted that &#34Iraqi National Accord Chairman Ahmad Chalabi also played a role in Al-Khoei””s assassination. During a visit to the Khoei Foundation in London, he promised the family of the victim that Al-Sadr would be arrested. A few days later, he promised at a meeting with Al-Sadr that the case would be closed.&#34 Chalabi was hoping for Al-Sadr””s strong support in the recent elections. In addition to his promise to close the case file, he provided Al-Sadr with a bullet-proof Mercedes car built to NATO specifications and costing $500, 000 US.

Al-Khoei””s family has stated repeatedly that it will not give up the case and has demanded the indictment of the culprits.