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Jordan to hand fugitives over to PA

Jordan to hand fugitives over to PA

A Palestinian anti-corruption commission chief said on Saturday that in the coming days Jordan will hand over a number of suspects accused of embezzling millions of shekels, as part of Palestine's new abilities as a member in the UN Convention Against Corruption.

Rafiq Natsha told Ma'an on Saturday afternoon that after Palestine had joined the convention, his commission renewed previously submitted applications to neighboring countries and foreign countries to return Palestinian fugitives.

"We have asked Jordan officially to hand over three people convicted by a Jordanian court on suspicion of embezzling 46 million shekels ($13 million) from the PA's Petroleum Corporation. In a few days, there will be good news and we will have them," he said.

Natsha added that his anti-corruption commission had also applied to Egypt to return suspects accused of stealing public money, pointing out that a few months ago an embezzler had paid 40 million dollars to the PA after an Egyptian court ordered him to do so.

The convict himself will also be handed to PA soon, Natsha said.

The PA is also preparing to submit applications to Serbia and Gulf states among other countries asking them to hand Palestinian fugitives who fled to those countries after suspected cases of embezzlement, the official said.

"We can now use Interpol to bring back fugitives," Natsha added.

Palestine applied to join the UN anti-corruption convention in late April as part of a series of applications to 15 international treaties after Israel reneged on a promise to release a fourth batch of prisoners as a part of US-backed peace negotiations.

The Palestinian Authority was informed in mid-May that the country's application to the convention had been accepted earlier in the month.
(maannews)

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