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Abbas rival dismisses Palestinian court’s ruling for alleged corruption charges

December 15, 2016 at 12:30 am

The Palestinian lawmaker Mohammed Dahlan has dismissed the anti-corruption court’s verdict, which was issued in absentia on Wednesday, sentencing him to three years in prison along with a $16 million fine over graft charges, Haaretz reported.

Dahlan has posted a response on his Facebook page, calling for a national commission to investigate the charges, and promised to accept its findings.

He has slammed the Palestinian government over leaking news about lifting his immunity.

The former head of the PA security forces in Gaza has responded to the charges against him saying that during his service, the Palestinian security forces were granted a $20 million from one of the Arab states with the purpose of purchasing security equipment, vehicles, ships and clothes. He added that the purchase and delivery processes had taken place under the Ministry of Finance full supervision.

The former high-ranking Fatah official also denied receiving any money from the Palestinian treasury while he was in charge of security. He also charged that Abbas has been exploiting the Palestinian legal system to get his political rivals out of the picture.

Dahlan has been considered as a major political foe of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He left the West Bank for the United Arab Emirate in 2011 following a power struggle with Abbas.

Egypt and other Arab states have urged Abbas to allow Dahlan’s return.