The Public Prosecutor's Office in Jordan continues its investigations into the issue of Jordanians traveling to perform Hajj outside the official Jordanian mission in the current year 2024, which resulted in the deaths of 99 pilgrims. It revealed that the number of defendants in the case has risen to 54, with 27 of them detained in rehabilitation centers.
The Public Prosecutor's Office stated that it has prohibited the travel of 27 of the accused, heard testimony from 35 witnesses, and decided to close 3 companies in accordance with the Human Trafficking Prevention Law based on Article 15 of the same law. Additionally, they have seized the funds and criminal proceeds that resulted from the criminal activities.
They confirmed that investigations are still ongoing, and several companies are still under investigation and auditing. They emphasized their commitment to intensively collect evidence to achieve justice, restore rights to their rightful owners, and prevent the recurrence of such acts that have led to the loss of Jordanian lives, as well as fraud and human trafficking.
Earlier last week, the Public Prosecutor's Office announced the preliminary investigation results in the case, charging 28 defendants with the crime of human trafficking according to Articles 9(c)(1) and (2) and 8 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Law, and with fraud under Article 417 of the Penal Code.
The specialized Public Prosecutor's Office has begun completing its investigative procedures by hearing testimonies from the victims, relatives of the deceased, and relevant official parties. They have also issued necessary letters to the Cyber Crime Unit to record and trace the testimonies of the victims and videos related to the circumstances of the irregular Hajj spreading on social media platforms.
Investigations revealed that some individuals, owners of private companies linked to passenger transport operations and those in the Hajj and Umrah business, attracted, transported, and housed numerous Jordanians to visit Mecca during the Hajj season without valid permits to perform Hajj and outside the framework of the official mission at the beginning of May 2024, a full month before the Hajj season. They did this with visit permits that did not authorize them for Hajj, with the companies and individuals involved knowing that the permits issued for the pilgrims did not allow them to perform Hajj, in exchange for financial sums charged for each person they sent for Hajj in this manner.
