Suspect in killing of Maan Gendarmerie officer turns himself in

AMMAN — The main suspect in the killing of Gendarmerie officer Nart Nafesh turned himself over to police two days ago, the Public Security Department (PSD) said Monday.

 “The suspect surrendered to the Maan Police Department and was referred to concerned authorities for interrogation,” PSD Spokesperson Major Amer Sartawi told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

Second Lieutenant Nafesh, 23, was part of a patrol that was guarding a post in Maan, some 220km south of Amman, when a group of suspects opened fire with automatic weapons on August 3 at 4:45am, killing the officer.

Sartawi added that other suspects who participated in exchanging fire with the patrol in Maan were arrested nearly two months ago.

Four Gendarmerie officers were injured in the incident, while security personnel have been target of sporadic shootings and attacks in the restive town of about 80,000 people.

Earlier this year, several instances of unrest were witnessed in the southern governorate following the death of one person and the injury of a dozen others, including security personnel, during police raids to detain wanted persons.

Lawmakers have been talking to Maan community leaders and authorities to “close the security file and focus on meeting the development needs of the governorate”, House Speaker Atef Tarawneh has recently said. Handing over suspects in the violence has been a condition set by the government.