Dahlan's corruption trial adjourned

The Palestinian corruption crimes tribunal yesterday postponed judgment in the corruption case against the former leader of the Fatah movement in the Gaza Strip Mohammed Dahlan pending a decision from the Palestinian Supreme Court about lifting Dahlan’s parliamentary immunity.

Dahlan, the former head of internal affairs during the reign of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, was accused of corruption and was expelled from Fatah in 2011. He moved to the United Arab Emirates to settle there. He is being tried in absentia.

An investigation into Dahlan’s conduct started in December last year and in March 2014 he was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of defamation.

Following his expulsion from Fatah he was accused of being involved in corruption and murder cases, his parliamentary immunity was lifted, and both Dahlan and the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas exchanged accusations of involvement in the death of the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat a decade ago.

Salam Halsa, Dahlan’s lawyer, said the parliamentary immunity of a member in the Palestinian Legislative Council could only be lifted following a vote by the Legislative Council.

The Palestinian Legislative Council has not met since the conflict between Fatah and Hamas that led to Hamas taking over the Gaza Strip in 2007.

Halsa filed an appeal before the Palestinian Supreme Court against the lifting of Dahlan’s parliamentary immunity.

“On 18 March, the Supreme Court will decide on the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of Mr Dahlan,” he said.