Three officers jailed, discharged for involvement in prison riots

AMMAN — The Police Court on Monday sentenced three police officers to prison terms ranging from two months to one year in connection with the riots that occurred at Swaqa Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre (SCRC) in September, official sources said.

The court also decided to discharge the three officers after they were found guilty of failing to perform their duties adequately, a senior police official said.

Meanwhile, the court acquitted 10 other police officers who were standing trial on charges of bribery and failing to perform their duties adequately, citing a lack of evidence, a senior official told
The Jordan Times.

The 13 officers were originally charged with smuggling illegal substances to the inmates, including a mobile phone and illegal narcotics, in return for cash.  

The Police Court verdict will be reviewed by the Cassation Court within the next 30 days.

Government Coordinator for Human Rights Basel Tarwneh welcomed the decision, which he said ensured “the rule of law and proved that no one is immune from punishment”.

“The verdict is a clear sign that the Public Security Department [PSD] represented by the Police Court will not tolerate any wrongdoing by any of its personnel,” Tarawneh told The Jordan Times.

Such verdicts, Tarawneh added, will surely “improve the police procedures in the future, including the recent measures that were adopted by the PSD to tackle individual mistakes in the most transparent and professional manner”.

Riots and acts of arson were reportedly committed by dozens of SCRC inmates in September, as shown in several video clips that also purported inmates harming themselves with sharp objects.

The video clips, which surfaced on the Internet, caused an uproar on social media platforms in Jordan. 

As a result of the riots, police officials said that dozens of inmates were referred to the State Security Court on terror related charges, and over 20 police officers were referred to the police prosecutor for questioning for allegedly violating duties, in addition to smuggling illegal substances to the inmates.

In addition, dozens of inmates were transferred to other correctional and rehabilitation facilities in the Kingdom, while over 100 police officers from various correctional facilities were relocated to serve in other PSD offices following the SCRC incident.