Public Prosecutor refers casino deal to House
29-02-2012 12:00 AM
Ammon News - AMMONNEWS Amman Public Prosecutor on Tuesday released a request to the Attorney General to ask the Lower House of Parliament to re-open investigations with the former Prime Minister Maruof Bakhit and 7 of former ministers over the high-profile Dead Sea Casino case.
Bakhit will be investigated along with Suhair al Ali, Khalid al Irani, Salim Khazaeleh, Basim al Rusan, Adel Twaisi, Muhi al Din Tuq, and Hussni Abu Ghidaa.
The high-profile corruption case dates back to 2007 during Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit's first term (2005-2007) when the government authorized the building of a casino on the eastern shores of the Dead Sea by a London-based investor. The deal was later renegotiated and annulled by Prime Minister Nader Dahabi's government, saving the Jordanian treasury over $ 1.4 billion in fines.
The parliament voted to acquit ex-Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit of implication in the casino corruption case back in June 2011, while Bakhit was heading his second government.
Bakhit's acquittal stirred major controversy, especially as the same parliament voted to indict former Minister of Tourism Osama Dabbas in the case, after a parliamentary ad-hoc committee that investigated the defunct Dead Sea casino deal referred 33 former officials, including 21 ministers, to the House for deliberation on possible indictment.
MP Mubarak abu Yamin told Ammon News that if the house re-open the case it needs a deep study and review in accordance with the new constitution , and he expected that the house will reject the request.