jordan pulse -

Khaled Al-Ajarmeh
Four defendants, including former MP, sentenced to 7 years in prison with temporary hard labour by Seventh Panel of Minor Criminal Court specialising in corruption cases, after conviction on embezzlement charges involving JOD 2.2 million.
Court also ordered fines and compensation payments against each defendant. Ruling issued in person by panel chaired by Judge Mohammad Al-Tarawneh, with Judge Dr Mohammad Al-Khawaldeh as member, and in presence of public prosecution.
According to case details obtained by Rum, four defendants worked at Companies Control Department between 2013 and 2020. One served as financial and administrative director, another as financial manager, while two worked in department financial programming system. Prosecution established they manipulated financial receipts and deleted amounts from computer system, enabling embezzlement of JOD 2.2 million over period.
Court heard that cashier, one of defendants, collected service fees from applicants, while remaining defendants entered receipt values into electronic system as zero, falsely indicating cancellation, while money was taken for personal gain. Defendants also issued forged receipts with lower amounts than actually collected, later cancelling these records to appear legitimate before deleting all traces from system.
Case uncovered after lawyer paid JOD 1,000 to register company and received receipt for amount. Upon accessing system, transaction appeared blocked, prompting review with department director while presenting receipt. Investigation revealed systematic deletion of receipts and amounts, leading to internal committees, financial audit and referral to Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission, which transferred case to court.
Public prosecution charged defendants with embezzlement and aiding embezzlement. Court convicted all four, sentencing each to 7 years imprisonment with temporary hard labour, fines and compensation equivalent to twice embezzled amount. Two defendants remain in custody. Ruling subject to appeal.
Two years earlier, Integrity and Anti-Corruption prosecutor ordered detention of three employees for 15 days pending investigation, seizure of former MP assets, travel ban, and charges including embezzlement, forgery, unlawful access to electronic system and misuse of public funds.
Investigations showed crime continued for years, with defendants manipulating electronic system to record state revenue transfers at zero value. Authorities stressed continued pursuit of corruption cases under law, including retroactively.