MPs pass arbitration law, refer other bills to committees for review

AMMAN — The Lower House on Sunday passed the 2017 amendments to the Arbitration Law and referred the draft  commerce and industry chambers laws and amendments to the Agriculture Law to its specialised committees for examination.

The Chamber also referred the Audid Bureau report of all government entities’ financial records for the year 2017. The panel will examine all violations listed in the report and come up with its findings to the House, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The 2017 audit showed “multiple financial irregularities and violations”, which include 69 instances of financial corruption and fraud amounting to around JD2.3 million. 

As per MPs’ amendments to the 2018 Arbitration Law, the phrase “specialised court” was removed from the bill and replaced with the “Court of Cassation”, Petra reported.

The draft commerce and industry chambers, which was referred to the Economic and Investment Committee, stipulates the establishment of the union of chambers of commerce and industry, which will act as a legal succcessor of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, Jordan Chamber of Industry and the Jordan Union of Chambers of Commerce, according to Petra.

Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Sunday announced the withdrawal of the 2018 draft amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedures. Minister of State for Media Affairs and Government Spokesperson Jumana Ghunaimat said that the withdrawal of the draft law came in implementation of the legal principle which states that "the suspect is innocent until proven guilty", which is consistent with international standards to guarantee a fair trial and principles of human rights, Petra said.