Jordan seizes assets of Mohammed Dahlan

Seizure reportedly took place in the context of an ongoing corruption investigation against former Fatah strongman.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Dahlan 311 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Dahlan 311
(photo credit: REUTERS)
In an unprecedented move, the Jordanian authorities have seized the assets of former Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan, sources in Amman said Tuesday.
Jordan’s Central Bank ordered the seizure of the fixed and liquid assets of Dahlan, his brother and another person, the official Jordanian daily Al-Rai reported.
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The paper said the decision was taken in the context of an ongoing corruption investigation against Dahlan.
A PA official in Ramallah confirmed that the Jordanian move was taken at the request of the PA leadership.
The official estimated Dahlan’s assets in Jordan at 10 million Jordanian dinars (NIS 53.5 million).
According to the official, the PA has also asked the Jordanian authorities to seize the assets of Mohammed Rashid, a former economic adviser to Yasser Arafat, who is also suspected of financial corruption.
Dahlan, a former PA security commander in the Gaza Strip, was expelled from Fatah last June over allegations of financial corruption and murder.
Dahlan’s brother, Abed Rabbo, said that the Jordanian decision to seize Dahlan’s assets was taken at the request of the PA.
He said that PA President Mahmoud Abbas was behind the decision “because of a political dispute with my brother.”
Abed Rabbo said that he was paying the price for a dispute that he was not part of. “I’m not a politician and I have nothing to do with politics at all,” he said. “I have been working as a businessman in Saudi Arabia for 40 years. Abbas wants to take revenge against anyone linked to my brother.”
Abed Rabbo said that this was the second time that Abbas has seized his assets.
The first time was in the Palestinian territories, he said.
Dahlan’s brother said that after the first seizure he obtained a court order instructing Abbas to release the seized assets, but the PA president has refused to comply.
Abed Rabbo said his brother did not have any properties or bank accounts in Jordan.