Former intelligence chief sentenced to 13 years for corruption

The criminal court in Amman has sentenced former intelligence chief Mohammad Al-Dahabi to 13 years in prison following his conviction for money laundering, embezzlement of public funds and abuse of his office. Al-Dahabi was also fined around $30 million. The court ordered him to repay money he was accused of laundering and embezzling, amounting to an additional $33.8 million.

A spokesman for Al-Dahabi’s defence team said that he will appeal against the court’s decision at Jordan’s Court of Cassation.

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Although his trial only opened in June, it was at the beginning of 2012 that the state prosecutor banned Al-Dahabi, who served as intelligence chief from late 2005 until December 2008, from travelling. His movable and fixed assets were seized after a complaint was made against him by the Central Bank of Jordan.

Since January 2011, Jordan has been witnessing peaceful demonstrations and protests demanding political and economic reforms and a serious fight against corruption.