‘Two police officers likely to be charged in connection with detainee’s death’

AMMAN — The police prosecutor is expected to charge two police officers with beating a detainee to death in Irbid on Saturday, a senior official source said.

Abdullah Zu’bi, 19, reportedly died shortly after police arrested him on alleged drug-related charges following a brief chase, according to Public Security Department Spokesperson Maj. Amer Sartawi.

On Monday, the police prosecutor issued orders for four officers to be detained pending further investigation.

“The police prosecutor is questioning the four officers and more charges are expected in the coming days”, the official source told The Jordan Times on Tuesday evening.

It was initially reported that Zu’bi died after falling from the roof of the Irbid Police Station while allegedly attempting to escape.

However, a video that went viral on the Internet showed Zu’bi covered in bruises, prompting his family to demand an investigation into the incident.

A government autopsy later confirmed that Zu’bi died of internal bleeding as a result of multiple bruises that were not consistent with a fall or the result of an accident. The bruises were caused by someone, according to the team of pathologists that performed the autopsy.

The teenager is expected to be laid to rest on Wednesday, according to Abdul Nasser Zu’bi, who heads the Zu’bi family’s follow-up committee.

The government coordinator on human rights, Basel Tarawneh, who is closely following up on the case, said he was satisfied with the progress.

“We are in close contact with the police regarding this matter and we sense their serious commitment towards ensuring that justice will prevail and that the responsible parties will be punished in accordance with the law,” Tarawneh added.