Ajloun house burnt down to ‘avenge murder victim’

AMMAN — A group of people on Sunday burnt down a house in Ajloun Governorate’s Rasoun town “to avenge the death of a relative” in a murder committed last week, an official source said on Monday.

Public Security Department (PSD) Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said the house’s residents were not present when the incident took place in Ajloun, some 70km northwest of Amman.

PSD and Criminal Investigation Department personnel have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder, Sartawi told The Jordan Times over the phone.

The victim, who was in his 40s and was found dead in a forest in Ajloun, had received multiple gunshot wounds in several parts of his body, which caused his death, according to the PSD.  

“After identifying the body of the victim, the suspect confessed to the murder, adding that an older relative of his helped him,” Sartawi said, noting that the suspect claimed to have had personal disputes with the victim.

“The two talked the victim into going with them to a forest in Rasoun, where the prime suspect shot him to death,” the official added. 

The two suspects then reportedly hid the weapon in the forest near the crime scene, the PSD spokesperson continued.

The prime suspect led police to the location of the concealed firearm, and search is under way for his accomplice, the PSD said.

The prime suspect was referred to the Criminal Court prosecutor.