MP Saud detained on charges of incitement to murder

Source: Jordan Times, AmmanOct.儲存 29--AMMAN -- Criminal Court Prosecutor Afif Khawaldeh on Monday decided to detain Deputy Yihya Saud for 14 days on charges of incitement to murder, and offending Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and another MP.The decision came as part of an ongoing investigation into a shooting that took place under the Dome of Parliament last month.Deputy Talal Sharif (Amman, 1st District) fired at least two bullets from his AK47 at his colleague MP Qusai Dmeisi (Zarqa, 4th District) during an argument as the Lower House was about to start a session.The bullets did not hit Dmeisi, but the Lower House decided to dismiss Sharif, which effectively lifted his immunity to allow judicial authorities to investigate the case.He is still in custody, and has been charged with attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and resisting security forces, Agence France-Presse reported on Monday."Prosecutors found evidence that Saud incited Sharif to shoot at Dmeisi," AFP quoted a judicial official as saying.During Lower House discussions over amendments to the 2013 State Budget Law in the last extraordinary session of Parliament in early September, Dmeisi and Saud (Amman, 2nd District) engaged in a scuffle after Dmeisi tried to prevent Saud from launching accusations at the prime minister.Saud criticised the premier, interrupting him and accusing him of constantly "lying" about government policies, which provoked Dmeisi, who said that he was against anyone who criticises Ensour.Dmeisi attempted to lunge at Saud, but was prevented by several other deputies.After the meeting resumed, Dmeisi apologised to the Lower House for his actions.The shooting took place a few days later.Investigators have found a connection between the two incidents, according to parliamentary sources.Saud's charges also include slandering official entities such as the Cabinet and Parliament.If convicted, Saud faces dismissal from the Lower House and more than two years in prison as per Article 迷你倉87 of the Criminal Code.But later on Monday, Lower House Speaker Saad Hayel Srour issued a statement calling for halting the measures taken by the prosecutor against Saud based on Article 151 of the House's Rules of Procedure.In a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Srour said the Lower House did not lodge any official complaints against the Amman MP, adding that the House is the only entity with the authority to take punitive measures against one of its members if he/she offends another colleague or violates the rules under the Dome.The speaker cited Article 87 of the Constitution, which grants MPs the right to speak freely in Parliament within the boundaries set by the House's Rules of Procedure.Petra also quoted Ensour as saying that he did not press charges against Saud and has no plans to lodge any complaints against the MP.The statement was taken from an official letter that the premier sent to Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni in relation to the criminal prosecutor's letter detailing the decision to detain Saud on charges that include offending the prime minister.Saud has a history of assaulting other colleagues.In May, he attacked his colleague Deputy Motaz Abu Rumman (Shabab Al Wifaq list) as Ensour was trying to address the Lower House on electricity prices.Abu Rumman had urged Saud not to interrupt the premier, which led to an argument and a scuffle between the two MPs.Last year, during a session of the 16th Parliament, Saud also assaulted Deputy Jamil Nimri, hurling his shoe at him over remarks made to online news outlets.Local news website Ammon reported late on Monday that tens of the MP's supporters from the Hai Tafaileh area held a sit-in in downtown Amman to protest against his detention.Saud sent them a letter urging them to maintain a peaceful approach in their protest, Ammon said.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 Jordan Times (Amman, Jordan) Visit the Jordan Times (Amman, Jordan) at .jordantimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存倉