Jordanian Judicial Committee endorses settlements in three corruption cases. The Judicial Committee of Economic Crimes has endorsed a decision of the attorney general to settle the cases of 18 suspects in three corruption cases handled by the Jordan Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission.

Jordanian and Palestinian anti-corruption officials discuss ways to bolster cooperation in combating corruption. The meeting took place on 20 June 2019 between the Chairman of the Jordan Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (JIACC) Muhannad Hijazi and his Palestinian counterpart Ahmad Barrak. Hijazi expressed the JIACC’s readiness to share its expertise in raising anti-corruption awareness. Barrak called for activating a previously signed protocol.

Jordan’s 2018 Corruption Perception Index. With a score of 49, Jordan increased a point on the CPI since last year, ranking 58th out of 180 countries. Transparency International (TI) regarded Jordan as one of the countries to watch in the coming years as despite relative stability, its geographic and economic status puts the country in the spotlight. Similarly, a report published by TI chapter Rasheed for Transparency and Integrity, which reviewed Jordan’s commitment to SDG 16, made several recommendations to the Jordanian government to improve its anti-corruption efforts.

Top Jordanian Politicians Arrested on Corruption Charges. Jordan's state security court has arrested several high-profile politicians on charges of illegal tobacco production, smuggling and bribery. State media report that former the Water and Irrigation Minister and the former Director of Customs, among other officials, were indicted on 23 January 2019. The case, dubbed the "cigarette scandal," involved the selling of counterfeit cigarettes worth millions of dollars.

Jordan touts extradition of fake cigarette salesman to win over public on corruption. On 18 December the Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz touted the extradition and arrest of a businessman wanted for tax evasion and corruption as a sign that Jordan’s anti-corruption crusade will continue in a bid to win over a sceptical public and growing discontent over the economy and alleged mismanagement of public funds.

Jordanian Audit Bureau publishes 2017 report. The Jordanian Audit Bureau issued the annual governmental audit report revealing 69 cases of embezzlement on public funds in the Kingdom during 2017. The report aims to prevent the waste and misuse of public money, and includes observations and analyses of the violations commuted by governmental entities under the bureau’s supervision.

Prime minister refers nine cases to JIACC. Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz referred nine violations listed in the Audit Bureau’s 2017 report to the Jordan Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (JIACC). The referred cases are related to tenders for projects and agreements under the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, as well as financial and supervisory cases related to Yarmouk University and Jordan University of Science and Technology.

Jordan’s Human Rights Commissioner says corruption is rooted in the national culture. During a press conference to announce his 2017 report on human rights situation in Jordan, the Commissioner General of the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) Mousa Burayzat stated that corruption was “rooted in the national culture”, especially favoritism and nepotism, which many citizens resort to “secure their basic rights”.

Bashir Hospital ‘graft’ case referred to anti-corruption agency. On 8 October 2018, Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said that the government had referred the case of a housekeeping company at Al Bashir Hospital to the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (JIACC) for investigation. The case involves suspicions of having hundreds of employees on fake lists as service employees who receive salaries without going to work.

Jordan’s King Abdullah vows to crack down on corruption. On 14 October 2018, Jordan’s King Abdullah II opened the country’s third ordinary session of Parliament and delivered a speech during which he vowed to crack down on corruption.