Man arrested in connection with stabbing death of Al Bashir surgeon

AMMAN — Police on Sunday arrested a man in connection with the stabbing death of an Al Bashir Hospital paediatric surgeon near his residence in Shafa Badran earlier in the day, according to a senior judicial source.

The victim, Mohammad Abu Risheh, was walking on the street near his home when a suspect allegedly approached and stabbed him, Public Security Department Spokesperson Maj. Amer Sartawi said.

"The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival from a stab wound to the chest," a medical source told The Jordan Times.

Sartawi said earlier in the day that police had good leads about the identity of the perpetrator.

"A team from the crime lab was dispatched to the scene and collected evidence," Sartawi noted.

He added that investigators are also questioning witnesses, in addition to friends and family members of the victim.

"We are certain that we will have someone in custody soon," he said before the arrest was made.

A source familiar with the incident said initial information indicates the victim, 39, had treated one of the suspect’s children four months ago, the two men subsequently had a dispute and the suspect allegedly attacked the doctor at the time.

Sources said there was some minor tension in Shafa Badran after the crime.

In a related development, the Jordan Medical Association (JMA) held an emergency meeting on Sunday evening to discuss the incident, according to one of its members.

"We strongly condemn this incident that ended the life of one of our peers and we are following up very closely with the police," the JMA member, who preferred anonymity, told The Jordan Times.

He added that "there is a possibility that [the crime] is related to his work at the hospital."

Criminal Court Prosecutor Afif Khawaldeh was called to the scene to investigate the incident, the senior judicial source said.

"Khawaldeh will supervise the autopsy of the victim, visit the crime scene and start questioning colleagues and family members," the judicial source told The Jordan Times on Sunday evening.

The medical association has complained over the years of assaults on doctors and medical staff. In 2013, 38 cases of assaults on medical staff were reported, and 19 cases were reported in the first three months of 2014.