PM urges expediting probes in graft cases as labour officials arrested

AMMAN — Prime Minister Hani Mulki on Saturday called on the Jordan Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (JIACC) to swiftly process graft files the government had referred to it, pledging any required support to accelerate the commission’s work on these files.  

During a meeting at the Prime Ministry with JIACC President Mohammad Allaf, Mulki urged the watchdog to provide the Cabinet with a timeframe for the mission at hand, so that suspects could be sent to court.

If convicted, the suspects’ photos and names will be published for the public, in line with the provisions of the relevant laws, he said, as quoted by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The government is highly committed to fighting all types of financial and administrative corruption, without hesitation or tolerance, Mulki said, stressing, at the same time, the government's keenness on enhancing the values of integrity at public agencies. 

He called on all citizens who have reliable information or suspicions of graft cases to report them to security and other concerned agencies, noting that corruption hinders investment and compromises the interests of good citizens.

The government has recently referred 30 cases to the JIACC to inspect on potential graft cases, including cases related to counterfeiting work permits issued by several labour directorates.

Regarding arson attacks at the Russeifa and Mafraq labour directorates, which followed corruption suspicions at the facility, Mulki highlighted the government’s keenness to uncover the details of the incidents. 

He stressed that those who tried to hide evidence will be held accountable and will not succeed in their efforts, because the Labour Ministry has copies of the files that were at the directorate at the time of the fire.

In this regard, Allaf said that the commission possesses documents related to all labour directorates, and that the fire will not obstruct the JIACC’s efforts to inspect these cases and achieve justice, Petra reported.

Last week, the JIACC “raided” the Mafraq Labour Directorate and apprehended four employees suspected of involvement in graft cases in issuing work permits.

The commission has enough information and evidence on the violations allegedly perpetrated in the Ruseifa directorate to proceed with legal and administrative procedures against violators, Allaf said, adding that investigation and witnesses will be enough to charge involved people.

In a separate report, Petra quoted Labour Minister Ali Ghezawi as saying on Friday the arson attacks in Mafraq and Russeifa labour directorates followed suspicions that involved some mediators and corrupt employees who allegedly used counterfeit documents. 

The minister said that after apprehending five employees in Mafraq, anonymous people on Wednesday tried to set the facility ablaze. 

He added that security agencies on Friday morning reported a fire in Russeifa, believed to have started on Thursday night, noting that the fire is being dealt with as an act of arson. 

Elaborating on the suspected corruption cases, Ghezawi noted that some people allegedly presented transactions to labour offices to hire guest workers through fake companies and used documents, which turned out to be forged, that prove their possession of agricultural lands that do not exist.

These cases were referred to the JIACC for investigation, he added.

Security agencies will increase the security of labour directorates across the Kingdom, Ghezawi said.

The ministry, in coordination with the JIACC, had suspended 20 employees working at several directorates from work for graft suspicions, Petra said.