Jordan Times
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
PM calls for review of
laws to make them cover e-crimes
Security forces discover forgery case, arrest suspects
By Mahmoud Al Abed
AMMAN — Prime Minister Adnan Badran on Tuesday
issued instructions for the formation of a committee to review legislation to
cover “new types of crimes,” particularly those employing IT and high-tech.
The premier's remarks, quoted by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, were made during
a visit to the Public Security Department (PSD), where he was briefed on a
recently revealed forgery case categorised under “electronic crimes.”
PSD's Media Office Director Major Bashir Daaja, told The Jordan Times that
several suspects were arrested for forging credit cards and other vital official
and non-official documents issued by Jordan and other countries, including ID
cards and various kinds of permits and certificates.
According to Petra, clients included “nationals of various countries.”
Major Daajah said that the case was by the Preventive Security Department, whose
director, Colonel Ibrahim Shobaki, briefed the premier and the accompanying
officials of the details of the crime.
Shobaki said the police, responding to a tip, set up an investigation team that
obtained the necessary warrants to storm the houses of the suspects, who were
caught red-handed using advanced equipment and software to forge the documents.
The papers and equipment used were confiscated.
Major Daaja did not comment further on the case, but said that the police are
capable of dealing with electronic crimes efficiently.
“Had we not had IT experts, a crime like this would not have been solved,” he
said.
Electronic crimes task forces are now part of three major police divisions: The
Forensic Labs Department, the Anti-Narcotics Department and the Preventive
Security Department, all functioning under the PSD.
The ad hoc committee which should review existing legislation, Badran told top
brass at the PSD, is to comprise police officers and judicial officials, who
have the mandate to suggest ways to introduce strict penalties for this type of
crime if they deem that necessary.
He said the government would extend “unlimited support” to the PSD to help it
“preserve the image of Jordan” which has become a major destination for tourists
and investors.
He praised policemen for “proving continuously that they can deal with the most
highly complicated modern crimes....”
Badran was accompanied on the visit by Minister of Justice Abed Shakhanbeh and
Minister of Interior Awni Yervas.