Suspects referred to judiciary for posting fake, old video footage

AMMAN — The Public Security Directorate’s (PSD) Cyber Crimes Unit (CCU) on Sunday said that several people, who reportedly published old or fake videos, have been referred to the relevant authorities for further legal action.

Director of the Crime Prevention Department at the CCU Maj. Hazem Rahahleh told a radio station affiliated with the PSD that his unit detected several videos, including some from outside of Jordan, that used old footage but were published with claims that the footage was recent.

“Many of these videos were broadcast through social media with the aim of causing chaos, incitement and spreading sectarian strife,” Rahahleh told the radio station.

The police official stressed that his unit will “continue to monitor all hate speech, false news, and fabricated videos being published on social media and will refer the perpetrators to the relevant judiciary branches”.

Rahahleh urged the public “to obtain the news from official channels and to refrain from publishing any news before verifying its authenticity”.

On Saturday, the PSD announced that it had beefed up its security presence in the Kingdom’s governorates to ensure the safety of the citizens and to maintain the enforcement of the law.

The PSD’s step was aimed to ensure the security and safety of citizens and their free and safe mobility along the Kingdom’s roads, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

“We will confront anyone who attempts to attack public and private property, and we will deal with vandals accordingly within the provisions of the law,” Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

The PSD also announced on Saturday that 44 people, who reportedly took part in riots in various parts of the Kingdom, were arrested.

The acts of riots resulted in the death of Colonel Abdelrazzaq Dalabeeh and the injury of 49 other police officers.

The colonel, who was the deputy director of the Maan Police Directorate, was killed while dealing with rioters in the Al Husseinieh area of Maan, the PSD spokesperson said.

His Majesty King Abdullah has directed all relevant security forces to identify and arrest the perpetrator who killed Col. Dalabeeh during the riots in Maan, Interior Minister Mazen Faraya said on Friday.

During a press conference on Friday at the Interior Ministry, Faraya said that the government has been handling the situation “wisely and with accountability” since the beginning of the protests, and has held a number of consultative meetings to discuss the demands of truck owners.

He noted that those demands have been addressed, stressing that the strike resulted in a suspension of supplies in a number of vital facilities, a matter that the government will not allow to continue.

He added that the strikes and protests harm the lives of citizens, and result in damages to health and property as well as the loss of life. 

King Abdullah and HRH Prince Hassan on Friday extended condolences to the family of the martyr Dalabeeh.

King Abdullah reaffirmed that violence against the state, vandalism of public property, and violating Jordanians’ rights will be dealt with firmly, stressing that assaults and acts of vandalism are dangerous threats to national security that will not be tolerated.

His Majesty expressed his deepest sympathies and condolences to Dalabeeh’s family, describing him as the son of all Jordanians. 

“We will not rest until the criminal is brought to justice,” His Majesty said.