Three police officers charged with beating detainee to death

AMMAN — The police prosecutor has charged three officers with beating a detainee to death in Irbid, according to a lawyer familiar with the case.

Citing the charge sheet, Abdul Nasser Zu’bi said on Thursday that the three interrogators were also charged with using force to extract a confession, illegally exercising authority, disobeying orders and violating regulations.

Abdullah Zu’bi, 19, reportedly died shortly after police arrested him on alleged drug-related charges following a brief chase, according to the Public Security Department.

In early May, the police prosecutor issued orders for four officers to be detained pending further investigation.

It was initially reported that Zu’bi died after falling from the roof of the Irbid Police Station while allegedly attempting to escape.

However, a video that went viral on the Internet showed Zu’bi covered in bruises, prompting his family to demand an investigation into the incident.

A government autopsy later confirmed that Zu’bi died of internal bleeding as a result of multiple bruises that were not consistent with a fall or the result of an accident. The bruises were caused by someone, according to the team of pathologists that performed the autopsy.

The lawyer, Abdul Nasser Zu’bi, told The Jordan Times that the victim’s family is not satisfied with the charges and plans to sue the perpetrators, even in international courts.

“Torture, sexual assault and violating home privacy are also not mentioned in the 35-page charge sheet,” said the lawyer, who also heads the Zu’bi family’s follow-up committee.