A Baghdad court has jailed a former environment minister on graft-related charges.

The judiciary announced on November 5 that Sargon Lazar Slewa was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay about $280,000 to the state.

The statement did not give further details.

Slewa is a Christian who served as a minister during former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's second term in office, which ended in 2014.

The current head of government, Haidar al-Abadi, launched a reform campaign in August to tackle graft and incompetence following mass protests against corruption, poor services, and reckless government spending.

While officials such as Slewa are periodically punished for corruption, more powerful politicians who have allegedly engaged in greater graft remain at large.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP