Case of alleged abuse at psychiatric institute referred for investigation

AMMAN – The General Attorney’s office has referred a case of alleged abuses and mistreatment at the National Institute of Psychiatric Medicine (NIPM) to the prosecutor general for investigation, a senior judicial source said recently.

The case of alleged abuse at the government centre surfaced on Wednesday following an investigative report and a video revealed on Roya TV.

In the video, patients could be heard alleging physical abuse and ill-treatment at the centre. The video also included a clip showing two women holding another woman by her hands and legs and dragging her on the floor from one room to another to lock her inside.

“We will not tolerate any kind of abuse of people with mental challenges, and if they cannot defend themselves, we will defend them,” General Attorney Hassan Abdullat said.

Abdullat told The Jordan Times that he instructed the prosecutor to investigate the allegations of ill-treatment and the authenticity of the video.

“We will conduct a comprehensive investigation with all parties to determine if there were abuses committed by NIPM employees, and check on the authenticity of the tape and the report itself,” Abdullat added.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Saad Jaber said that the ministry will take "stiff and serious" measures against anyone found to be at fault, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Saad added that he referred the video and the investigative reporting that appeared on Wednesday on Roya's TV channel to the General Attorney’s office for investigation and legal action.