AMMONNEWS - The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will launch an investigation into the details and government pretexts used to approve sending Khalid Shaheen, convicted of bribery and corruption in the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Co. case, for medical treatment in the United States, an ACC official said.

The source told Al Arab Al Yawm daily newspaper that the ACC decided to launch an investigation after the newspaper published reports indicating that Shaheen was seen in London and in public places, and did not appear to be in poor health.

ACC added that it will contact the Minister of Interior next week to inquire on the pretexts provided by the government to permit Shaheen to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Al Arab Al Yawm reported on Friday that Shaheen did not receive a valid Visa to travel to the United States, after his visa was suspended following his conviction for bribery by the State Security Court last year.

Jordan does not have an extradition agreement with the United States yet, a matter that contradicts claims by Minister of Justice Hussein Mjalli of an effective agreement between the two countries in response to inquiries regarding the possibility of Shaheen's return to Jordan to serve his 3-year sentence.

In a related report, Al Arab Al Yawm said that a speciality physician who reviewed the medical report issued for Shaheen to seek medical treatment abroad stressed that Shaheen did not have a medical emergency that required his treatment abroad which could not be treated here in Jordan.

"Shaheen medical condition did not require treatment abroad, Al Hussein Medical Facility has the medical and technological capabilities to treat him," the physician stated, adding that some members of the medical committee that reviewed Shaheen's case "were subject to official pressures to approve Shaheen's travel abroad for treatment."

Shaheen had left Amman to the United States via London on February 25th.

A statement by the Interior Ministry on that date noted that Shaheen would be medically discharged in London to the United States for medical treatment at his personal expense."

The statement added that needed guarantees were obtained from Shaheen's family to ensure his return to serve his sentence following his medical treatment.

The statement did not indicate what type of guarantees were obtained or the period of time Shaheen received to seek medical treatment in the United States.

* Obtained by Ammon News English from Salameh Al Dar'awi, Al Arab Al Yawm.

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