Anti-corruption: Jordan provides protection to 43 whistleblowers, witnesses

AMMAN — Jordan’s Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission has thus far granted protection to 43 people who have provided useful and important information regarding corruption crimes. The commission, through providing this protection, is sending a message all Jordanians to report any suspicions of corruption or abuse of public money, as “everyone is a partner in combatting corruption in this country”, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. Protection systemThrough a review of the commission’s protection system and annual reports from the last three years, Petra observed that the commission’s protection of whistleblowers and witnesses is not random, but in accordance with a carefully studied scientific and legal methodology. Combatting corrupt practices is an integral responsibility and… citizens are an essential partner in eradicating corruption by standing against it and reporting it In the commission’s system, requests for protection are treated in strict confidentiality, whereby the president refers all requests for protection to the commission’s Protection Unit for examination and to provide a recommendation for acceptance or rejection, reinforced by documents, information, evidence, a protection plan, and necessary costs. The commission’s board then makes a decision to approve or reject the application. Types of protectionAccording to Article 26 of the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Law, anyone who discloses information regarding the identity or whereabouts of a whistleblower, witness, or informant shall be liable to a term of up to six months' imprisonment and a fine of up to JD10,000. The commission offers protection in cooperation with the Public Security Directorate and related bodies. This could take the form of concealing the name and other personal data of the informant, safeguarding information related to their identity and affiliations, changing and monitoring telephone numbers, and changing their place of residence or place of work. It also includes procedures for transferring individuals to and from their places of residence, protecting their homes from any assault, providing emergency contacts, and offering compensation for any assaults that do take place. Awareness campaignThe commission recently launched a public information campaign to raise awareness on its role in reporting acts of corruption and protecting whistleblowers and witnesses. The campaign targets citizens, public sector employees, and all sectors of society, to motivate the public to report acts of corruption, and to publicize the commission’s role in protecting whistleblowers, witnesses, informants, and experts in corruption cases, as well as their relatives and close contacts. Some 200 people were convicted of various corruption crimes in the past year, including embezzlement, bribery, forgery, and the nepotism. The campaign, titled "Report, and the Anti-Corruption Commission will Protect You", stresses that combatting corrupt practices is an integral responsibility and that citizens are an essential partner in eradicating corruption by standing against it and reporting it. Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh instructed ministries, institutions, government departments, municipalities, joint services councils, the Greater Amman Municipality, universities, and government-owned companies to support the campaign and to re-share awareness-raising content produced by the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission, posting it on their official websites and social media pages using the campaign's hashtag. Tough anti-corruption measuresFor years, Jordan had taken vigorous action to combat corruption, Petra reported. Some 200 people were convicted of various corruption crimes in the past year, including embezzlement, bribery, forgery, and the nepotism. The Kingdom ranked 61st globally and fourth among Arab countries on the global Corruption Perceptions Index 2022, which was released by Transparency International and evaluated 180 countries. Read more National news Jordan News   (window.globalAmlAds = window.globalAmlAds || []).push('admixer_async_509089081')   (window.globalAmlAds = window.globalAmlAds || []).push('admixer_async_552628228') Read More Modifications and Engineering Works on "Commodore Intersection" Toward Wadi Saqra in Amman Illegal Connections Detected on Main Water Lines in Eastern Dhahibeh 5,000 Transactions Completed in One Month by Evening Mobile Licensing Unit on Zarqa Highway