Panel to look into request to lift immunity of 5 deputies

AMMAN — The Lower House Legal Committee has formed a sub-panel to look into a request to lift the immunity of five MPs who face lawsuits filed by citizens.

MP Abdul Jalil Zyoud (Amman, 6th District), a lawyer, was named as head of the subcommittee.

A source from the House’s permanent office familiar with the issue told The Jordan Times last week that the MPs in question are Ahmad Safadi (Amman, 3rd District), Qusai Dmeisi (Zarqa, 4th District), Mohammad Dawaimeh (Amman, 2nd District), Mirza Bollad (Zarqa, 1st District) and Motaz Abu Rumman (Shabab Al Wifaq list).

The source added that the request to lift the immunity of these deputies was submitted by the judiciary to be able to proceed with legal procedures in the lawsuits, which include charges of slander.

According to Paragraph A of Article 86 of the Constitution, the lifting of immunity has to be passed by an overwhelming majority of MPs in a full House session.

“No senator or deputy may be detained or tried during the currency of the sessions of the National Assembly unless the House to which he/she belongs decides by an absolute majority that there is sufficient reason for his/her detention or trial or unless he/she was arrested in flagrante delicto. In the event of his/her arrest in this manner, the House to which he/she belongs, shall be notified immediately,” the paragraph says.

The Legal Committee also formed another sub-panel tasked with examining suspected corruption cases related to the selling of land in the Dead Sea area. 

The subcommittee is headed by MP Mustafa Yaghi (Balqa, 4th District), who is a lawyer.