Three men sentenced to 22 years each in ‘Tobacco Case’

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation on Monday upheld a September State Security Court (SSC) ruling sentencing three main suspects in the so-called “tobacco case” to 22 years each in prison after convicting them of performing acts that endanger society’s safety.

“The SSC’s verdict is legally correct, since the court examined all the details that are related to this case,” the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The SSC depended on solid evidence and credible witnesses who backed up the prosecution’s evidence, according to the 1,740-page verdict.

The higher court also upheld fines ranging between JD11,000 and JD20,000 that were imposed on the defendants by the SSC.

Other suspects, including high-level officials, received prison terms ranging from 10 months to three-and-a-half years in prison for their involvement in the case.

The main defendant in the case, Awni Mutee, who was one of three defendants sentenced to 22 years in prison, was among 29 men and 25 companies standing trial at the SSC on charges of performing acts that endanger society’s safety, security and economic resources, as well as acts that change the state’s economic structure or endanger basic societal conditions.

Other charges levelled against the defendants and the companies included accepting or providing bribes to carry out illegal acts, abuse of power, money laundering, and tax evasion, among others.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty during their opening trial in March 2019.

Two of the 29 defendants died in recent years, and the charges against them were dropped by the court.

The SSC also acquitted four defendants of all charges for lack of evidence.

The SSC decided to inflict the maximum punishment against Mutee due to “the dangerous acts that he committed, which reflected negatively on the Jordanian economy and its security”.

The court stated in its verdict that the defendant’s participated in illegally manufacturing tobacco and claiming it was made by international brands, and then exporting it without paying taxes or customs fees.

The SSC’s indictment list chronicled years of cooperation between Mutee and a former Customs Department high-level official who facilitated the smuggling process in the illegal operation.

The facilitation process reportedly included transferring or referring to retirement employees who would impede the tobacco smuggling, as well as diverting inspection and scrutiny from Mutee’s business, according to the court document.

“The defendants’ actions of manufacturing tobacco illegally and exporting it illegally to evade tax and customs fees cost the Treasury around JD179 million,” the court said in its verdict.

The higher court also upheld the SSC ruling to seize the property, jewellery, tobacco and raw material used in the manufacturing process, as well as other valuable assets belonging to the convicted persons.

The SSC also ordered the closure of all companies that were found guilty.

Meanwhile, the Court of Cassation upheld the acquittal of Mutee on charges related to bribery and money laundering for lack of evidence.

Mutee reportedly fled the country to Lebanon last year, one day before a raid of the illegal tobacco manufacturing and smuggling factory, but was later extradited from Turkey, according to the court documents.

The defence team contested the SSC’s jurisdiction in the trial, arguing that their clients should be tried in civil courts and that “illegal questioning and interrogations of their clients” took place.

However, the SSC decided in April 2019 that it had legal jurisdiction over the case.