FORMER GID HEAD CONVICTED IN BANK SCANDAL CASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 004240 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2012 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KCRM JO SUBJECT: FORMER GID HEAD CONVICTED IN BANK SCANDAL CASE REF: A. AMMAN 00687 B. AMMAN 00794 Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Former General Intelligence Directorate (GID) head Samih Battikhi was sentenced to 8 years in prison on July 10 after being convicted of fraud and forgery charges, which stem from a bank fraud scandal associated with Jordanian businessman Majd Shamayleh (see reftels). One Embassy source said that when current GID head Sa'ad Kheir ratified the court's judgment, he reduced Battikhi's prison sentence to four years. GOJ prosecutors told the specially-convened military tribunal that Battikhi had embezzled JD 17 million. At least some of Battikhi's assets have been seized by the GOJ. ¶2. (C) Prosecuting Battikhi serves the dual purpose of highlighting the GOJ's anti-corruption efforts while underscoring to the public that no one is above the law, including former senior GOJ officials. Although the King may issue a royal pardon to Battikhi before he serves out his sentence, the message--which was generally well-received by the public--has been made. GNEHM