MP Dayat released on bail after day in detention for allegedly slapping police officer

AMMAN — MP Fidya Dayat was bailed out on Wednesday after a day in detention for allegedly slapping a police officer in Salt Governorate the day before.

The Balqa MP was ordered detained by the Salt prosecutor on Wednesday, following a complaint by a police officer that she allegedly slapped him while he was arresting a man, MP Moutaz Abu Rumman said.

“Dayat informed me that she was driving when she spotted a police patrol arresting a man and decided to interfere,” Abu Rumman told The Jordan Times.

An argument occurred between “Dayat and the police officer, which ended with the MP slapping him in the face after he pushed her”, Abu Rumman said, based on what she told him.

Jerash MP Wafa Bani Mustafa, a lawyer, added that Dayat, at the prosecutor’s office, reportedly “confessed to slapping the officer after he allegedly intimidated her and pushed her while attempting to discuss the matter of the arrested man”.

“Dayat dropped the charges against the police officer but she was surprised that he did not drop the charges against her,” Bani Mustafa told The Jordan Times.

The MP, who is a member of the Islamist Centre Party, was transferred to Al Bashir Hospital due to health issues, according to Abu Rumman.

He mediated with officials to secure a bail for the Dayat, Abu Rumman added.

“She has been discharged from hospital and the next step is to head a tribal delegation in hopes that the police officer would drop charges against the MP,” Abu Runman said.

“The case is still under review at the prosecution office and we respect the rule of law... [we] also carry a lot of respect and admiration for our police force,” he concluded.