Jordan's judges investigating corruption

Judges across Jordan have launched a number of investigations amid claims that candidates are paying voters to vote for them in Wednesday's parliamentary elections. Judge Ahmed al-Ruahna issued an order for the arrest of former MP and candidate for the Second Circuit, Ghazi Alian, charging him with influencing voters by paying them. The offence, in breach of Article 63A of the electoral regulations, carries a punishment of up to 7 years in prison. The prosecutor decided to detain Alian for 15 days pending investigation. A 60-year old women working as director at the candidate’s office was also been arrested. A source told Arabstoday that the Independent Electoral Commission filed a complaint against the woman who was willing to "pay voters $14 dollars before the vote was cast, and $14 after they had voted." Meanwhile, Attorney-General of Amman, Judge Salah Qallab heard the testimony of electoral candidate Mohammad Khashman on Thursday, accusing him of promising money to voters. However, a source told Arabstoday that Khashman had not been arrested. The Attorney-General of Madaba (40 kilometres south of the capital), Judge Mohammed Hijazi issued an arrest warrant for the candidate Adnan Abu Rakia. He will be detained for 15 days pending an investigation into charges that he influenced voters. Furthermore, the Media Centre of the Directorate of Public Security announced that two candidates, one for the Third Circuit in Amman and the other believed to be a list candidate provided their testimonies on Friday after being accused of bribing voters.