Gov’t releases details on ‘tobacco case’ suspect’s extradition

AMMAN — Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Tuesday said that the extradition of the primary suspect in the so-called “tobacco case”, Awni Mutee, was a great achievement for His Majesty King Abdullah and security services, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The premier said that such achievements reflect a strong will to consolidate the rule of law, achieve justice for all, eradicate corruption once and for all and protect the capabilities of Jordan.

“No one is above the law, and we will not allow encroachment on the prestige of the state, and we appeal to the security services to enforce the law for violators and offenders, and to deter those who fuel sedition,” Razzaz said during his visits to the Public Security Department (PSD) and the General Directorate of Gendarmerie Forces.

The prime minister also stressed during the visits, accompanied by Interior Minister Samir Mubaidin, security services’ duty and role in balancing citizens’ freedom of expression using peaceful means with making sure people do not block roads, which can disrupt life and prevent the arrival of patients to hospitals and other public facilities, he said.

Razzaz praised the security services in their handling the recent protests in Amman and in preserving citizens’ right to peacefully and freely express their opinions.

He stressed that the extradition of Awni Mutee, would not have happened without the relentless and exceptional efforts exerted by the King at the highest levels and the diligent work of the Jordanian security and diplomatic services. 

“We will not stop at Awni Mutee, and we will see this process through to the end,” the premier said.

Razzaz added that “the vision to achieve the rule of law, combat corruption and equally treat everyone under the umbrella of the rule of law is underway”.

The prime minister stressed that the government is working to implement the directives of the King to achieve a strong state and society.

He said that a powerful state is not a state of tyranny or domination, but rather a state of law that imposes and enforces it on everyone while protecting citizens’ rights to express their opinions.

Mubaidin said that the security services had adopted a civilised approach that won the world’s admiration in handling the protests and sit-ins Jordan has witnessed since the so-called Arab Spring.

PSD Director Maj. Gen. Fadel Hmoud stressed that the PSD, in cooperation and partnership with the armed forces and security services, is committed to safeguarding the march to development and will protect the rights of citizens to ensure the dignity of every citizen and resident in Jordan.

Director General of the Gendarmerie Directorate Maj. Gen. Hussein Hawatmeh added that the gendarmerie forces perform their duties in a professional manner, in accordance with the best practices within a framework of discipline and respect for human rights.

Also on Tuesday, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Government Spokesperson Jumana Ghunaimat revealed the details of the extradition of Awni Mutee, Petra reported. 

King Abdullah personally led official efforts to bring in the suspect at the highest political levels, as the suspect was extradited from Turkey only hours after the King made a phone call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ghunaimat added.

“Upon the suspect’s departure, a cell was formed to follow up on the matter, involving the government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ministry of Justice, Military Judiciary, General Intelligence and Public Security Department. The cell continuously worked to follow up on the matter and found that the suspect left the Kingdom for Lebanon, then returned to settle in a neighbourhood of Istanbul,” she explained.

Ghunaimat also said that the coordination and follow-up resulted in locating the suspect’s place of residence in Istanbul, where communication with the concerned Turkish authorities through various diplomatic and security channels had been launched. The Turkish authorities were made aware of the accusations against the suspect and his effect on national economic security, Petra reported. 

She expressed appreciation for the Turkish authorities’ cooperation, as they immediately arrested the suspect after being informed of his precise whereabouts.

She also said that a specialised Jordanian security team had been dispatched to Turkey to discuss legal and diplomatic options to ensure that the suspect is brought before the Jordanian judiciary and that an integrated legal file was prepared to retrieve the suspect, in line with international and Turkish regulations, Petra said.

She pointed out that such a procedure usually takes a long time, which prompted Jordan and Turkey to agree to withdraw the file of retrieval and administratively transfer the suspect to the Jordanian authorities through the Turkish ministry of interior.

The suspect was handed over by Turkish authorities on Monday evening to a security team, in the presence of the Jordanian ambassador to Turkey. He was then brought back to the Kingdom and referred to the State Security Court Prosecutor General, according to Petra.