AMMAN —
The Lower House held a legislative session on
Wednesday, in which some provisions of the anti-money laundering and terrorism
financing bill for the year 2020 were approved.
اضافة اعلان
The approval followed a lengthy discussion of the details of
the bill.
Lower House Speaker Abdel-Munem Al-Oudat chaired the
session, which was attended by Prime Minister
Bisher Al-Khasawneh and members
of the Cabinet.
MP Khalil Attiyah argued that the bill lacks a “clear
definition of money laundering,” while the Legal Committee also emphasized the
need for a clearer definition of what activities constitute money laundering.
MP Khair Abu Saalik criticized provisions in the bill,
stating that “some articles infringe on the jurisdiction of the judiciary.”
Controversy at previous sessions concerned whether the law,
which requires adherence to decisions made by the UN Security Council,
represents a violation of Jordan’s sovereignty.
The proposed legislation stipulates harsher penalties for money
laundering and terrorism crimes financing, with the addition of detailed
criminal penalties in the event that the notified bodies do not comply with the
provisions of the law, as well as a specific penalty for violating the
legislation related to the implementation of
UN Security Council resolutions.
It entails tougher penalties for legal entities and includes
the confiscation of proceeds for the crimes they commit.
In a deviation from the bill on the agenda, lawmaker Ali
Al-Tarawneh argued that the government is neglecting Jordanians when it comes
to public sector appointments through the Civil Service Bureau. He also
highlighted the importance of tackling corruption in major Jordanian companies.
MP Hussein Al-Harassis seconded Tarawneh and urged the government
not to underestimate the violations that are occurring in employments through
the Civil Service Bureau.
Additionally, dozens of lawmakers took parliamentary memo
calling for the release of those detained in connection with cases of free
speech and opinion during this holy month, as Eid Al-Fitr approaches. Notably,
the memo comes shortly after World Press Freedom Day.
Meanwhile, MP Ahmed Al-Qatawneh called on the government to
declare the 2021 a drought year, noting that farmers across the Kingdom are
complaining that their livestock are finding “nothing in the barren lands.”
For his part, MP Fawaz Al-Zoubi criticized private schools
in Jordan, claiming that they “sucked the blood of the Jordanians during the
COVID pandemic and its economic repercussions. Despite moving to online
education, schools did not deduct or reduce tuition.”
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