14 July 2003
AMMAN (JT) — The Jordan Society for Human Rights on Sunday hailed last week's decision by a special court to sentence a former General Intelligence Department (GID) official to eight years.
The group also called on the 110 newly elected Lower House deputies to assume a larger role in monitoring the department. The society, in a statement, said the GID should be subject to scrutiny and supervision by the legislative authority, as is the case with all state institutions.
“To consolidate the country's drive to counter corruption, the society also hopes Parliament will review all special laws related to running state affairs to ensure greater transparency, monitoring and accountability,” the statement added.
The 14th Parliament's first extraordinary session is slated for July 16. The legislative authority is expected to look into 230 temporary laws that the government issued over the last two years while the Lower House was not in session.
The society suggested that there be periodic inspections of national institutions, saying such an action “would help detect violations at an early stage.”
The group said its interest in a bank loans case stemmed from the fact that cases of administrative and financial corruption and the misuse of authority — particularly in third world countries — touch on individual and collective human rights, damaging the state's political, economic and social structure.
The society added that the GID special court decision exemplified the beginning of strict and serious measures to counter corruption and punish those responsible, regardless of rank or position.
This effort helps realise His Majesty King Abdullah's statement that no one is above the law, it added.
On Thursday, the GID tribunal sentenced former GID chief Samih Battikhi to eight years on charges ranging from involvement in fraud to the abuse of power. That sentence was immediately halved by the current GID chief.
The court ordered Battikhi to immediately return JD17 million obtained through a multimillion-dollar bank loans case involving alleged fraudster Majd Shamayleh, saying that Battikhi had reached the highest position in GID and believed he was above the law.
According to observers, the trial's handling generated faith in citizens and trust in the country's judiciary, creating a general sense of relief and hope for greater transparency, accountability and justice.
AMMAN (JT) — The Jordan Society for Human Rights on Sunday hailed last week's decision by a special court to sentence a former General Intelligence Department (GID) official to eight years.
The group also called on the 110 newly elected Lower House deputies to assume a larger role in monitoring the department. The society, in a statement, said the GID should be subject to scrutiny and supervision by the legislative authority, as is the case with all state institutions.
“To consolidate the country's drive to counter corruption, the society also hopes Parliament will review all special laws related to running state affairs to ensure greater transparency, monitoring and accountability,” the statement added.
The 14th Parliament's first extraordinary session is slated for July 16. The legislative authority is expected to look into 230 temporary laws that the government issued over the last two years while the Lower House was not in session.
The society suggested that there be periodic inspections of national institutions, saying such an action “would help detect violations at an early stage.”
The group said its interest in a bank loans case stemmed from the fact that cases of administrative and financial corruption and the misuse of authority — particularly in third world countries — touch on individual and collective human rights, damaging the state's political, economic and social structure.
The society added that the GID special court decision exemplified the beginning of strict and serious measures to counter corruption and punish those responsible, regardless of rank or position.
This effort helps realise His Majesty King Abdullah's statement that no one is above the law, it added.
On Thursday, the GID tribunal sentenced former GID chief Samih Battikhi to eight years on charges ranging from involvement in fraud to the abuse of power. That sentence was immediately halved by the current GID chief.
The court ordered Battikhi to immediately return JD17 million obtained through a multimillion-dollar bank loans case involving alleged fraudster Majd Shamayleh, saying that Battikhi had reached the highest position in GID and believed he was above the law.
According to observers, the trial's handling generated faith in citizens and trust in the country's judiciary, creating a general sense of relief and hope for greater transparency, accountability and justice.
© Jordan Times 2003
