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Jordan’s
Former Intelligence Chief Charged In Fraud Case
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| Jordan's
former intelligence chief Samih Batikhi |
AMMAN,
March 21 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Jordan's former
intelligence chief Samih Batikhi was charged on six counts in a
multi-million-dollar fraud case, news agencies reported Thursday.
Batikhi
was arrested late Tuesday on orders of the prosecutor general of
Jordan's state security court. He pleaded "not guilty" to
all the charges, judicial sources said, Agence France-Presse (AFP)
reported.
He
was questioned for eight hours following his arrest and accused of
embezzlement, forging official documents, forging an official stamp,
abuse of power, demanding and receiving bribes as well as graft,
they said.
The
prosecutor ordered Batikhi to be held in custody for a renewable
period of 15 days for investigation after producing evidence against
him.
He
is among nine people detained for questioning since the case emerged
in mid-February but two of the suspects were released on bail, while
dozens of prominent Jordanians were linked to the fraud.
Fugitive
businessman Majd Shamayleh and associates are accused of having
secured unguaranteed bank loans and credits worth more than 100
million dollars on the pretext of financing a project for the
intelligence service department.
Earlier
this month Shamayleh was sentenced in absentia to two years in
prison for dud cheques worth 2.2 million dollars, following a
complaint lodged by the Jordan Gulf Bank.
The
government referred the case to the military state security court,
which is expected to call for a trial within several weeks, judicial
sources said.
The
court also ordered the funds of more than 150 people and firms
seized.
In
an interview with AFP on February 21, Batikhi protested his
innocence, insisting he was not involved in any commercial dealings
as head of the intelligence service.
Battikhi,
55, headed the General Intelligence Department between 1996-1999
during the late king Hussein’s tenure and continued in his post
until October 2000 upon orders by King Abdulla II. He was appointed
member of the Jordanian Senate Council by King Abdulla II and is
still a member but without parliamentary immunity.
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