Jordan Times
Thursday, August 19, 2004
'Gov't taking measures
against Chalabi's suit'
By Isam Qadamani and Ihab Hiyasat
AMMAN, August 19 - The government on Wednesday said it took precautionary
measures against a lawsuit by the family of ex-Iraqi Governing Council member
Ahmed Chalabi against Jordan.
A Finance Ministry source said such measures include collecting all documents
and reports related to the case of liquidated Petra Bank, founded by Chalabi in
1977.
The family of Chalabi, who was convicted in absentia in Jordan in 1992 on
several counts of fraud, filed a suit in Washington last week against the
government claiming that it conspired with former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
to murder him and destroy his family business.
The source added that these pieces of evidence will be translated into English,
while the government will consult legal experts and set up a defense team.
The 53-page suit claiming Jordan sought to arrest Chalabi to turn him over to
Iraqi secret service agents, also says that Mohammad Saeed Nabulsi, former
governor of the Central Bank of Jordan and former Prime Minister Mudar Badran
cooperated with Saddam to seize Petra Bank. The suit said the former government
officials attempted to murder Chalabi, and it accused them of fraud and
obstruction of justice.
Officials had said the lawsuit was a “politically motivated” act, and added that
they have not been served notice on it.