ACC reveals outcome of probe into ‘fraudulent Aqaba transactions’

AMMAN — The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has revealed the names of 32 importing companies in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) for alleged tax and customs duties evasion through fraudulent practices.

The value of the funds involved is estimated at JD42 million, an official source told The Jordan News Agency, Petra, adding that these firms have been referred to the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) to take legal action against them. 

According to the source, the owners of these companies, some of whom are from “leading importers”, have allegedly manipulated “needy people”, including street vendors, people who receive aid from the government, unemployed persons, guest labourers and poor women in their fraudulent transactions.  

The suspects allegedly tricked these “ignorant” people into registering importing companies in their names and doing transactions “in return for a few dinars a month”, using the “importer’s card”, an official permit issued to registered importers to bring into the country specified quantities of specified goods. 

The source told Petra that the importer’s card has become a “new challenge for the national anti-corruption efforts, especially in ASEZ”.

On the latest case, he added that in the final act, authorities discover that these importers have no offices, (maybe temporary ones only) and no staff. The suspicious transactions have encouraged smuggling goods to and from Amman and facilitated evasion of paying sales tax and “actual” customs duties. Some of the traders involved even apply for and obtain a refunding of taxes and fees they have paid.