The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Iraq’s top criminal court is investigating allegations that Ahmed Chalabi’s nephew Salem Chalabi threatened an Iraqi official days before the man was assassinated in late May. The Finance Ministry official who was killed was investigating whether the Chalabi family had illegally seized hundreds of pieces of property shortly after the US-invasion.

The Finance Ministry official reportedly told his wife shortly before he died that he had received many threats from Chalabi who warned 'You will not stay for long. We will get rid of you.' ” Chalabi has denied he threatened the man or had a role in the killing. He claims the allegation is part of an effort to remove him as head of the Iraqi Special Tribunal, which will try Saddam Hussein and other former leaders of the old regime.