Former officials Bassem Awadallah and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid received sentences over alleged attempts to destabilise kingdom in April
By MEE staff
Two former officials have received 15 years jail sentences in Jordan over an alleged sedition plot in April
Former royal court chief Bassem Awadallah and minor royal Sharif Hassan bin Zaid were sentenced to hard labour over their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to replace King Abdullah II with his half-brother Prince Hamzah.
An AFP reporter said the court convicted the pair of “incitement against the ruling system” and “sedition”.
Although the charge sheet acknowledges the prince’s direct involvement in the plot, he himself is not on trial.
The verdict in the trial, which has been ongoing since 21 June, was announced by the State Security Court, a military tribunal that also includes civilian judges.
Though both men are known to have ties to Saudi Arabia, Riyadh has strongly denied any involvement in the plot.
Jordanian authorities in April announced that they had foiled a plot to destabilise the kingdom in April, a revelation that shocked foreign observers who saw the country as a reliably stable ally.
Eighteen suspects were originally arrested, but 16 were later released.
The trial of the alleged coup plotters was held behind closed doors in the capital Amman.
Middle East Eye