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Ammon News - The General Secretariat of the Judicial Council has disclosed the preliminary findings of an investigation by the Public Prosecution into the case of Jordanian citizens traveling for Hajj outside the official delegation in 2024, which resulted in the deaths of 99 people, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.

The investigation led the Public Prosecution to charge 28 individuals with human trafficking, under Article 9/C/1, 2, and 8 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Law, and fraud, under Article 417 of the Penal Code. As part of the legal proceedings, 19 people, including one woman, have been detained, and travel bans have been imposed on 10 others.

In exercising its authority, the Public Prosecution has implemented measures under Article 15 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Law, ordering the closure of companies implicated in the unauthorized facilitation of Hajj. Additionally, the prosecution has seized criminal proceeds obtained through these illicit activities.

The specialized Public Prosecution is set to continue its investigation by gathering testimonies from victims, families of the deceased, and relevant officials.

The investigation will also involve coordination with the Cybercrime Unit to monitor and analyze victim testimonies and videos circulating on social media platforms that pertain to unauthorized Hajj operations.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that individuals, including owners of private transport companies and Hajj and Umrah service providers, orchestrated the unauthorized travel of many Jordanian citizens to Mecca for Hajj.

These activities took place at the beginning of May 2024, a month before the official Hajj season, using visit permits that did not authorize Hajj. These individuals knowingly issued improper permits and collected significant sums of money from each person they sent for Hajj through these means.

Petra