The State Security Court (SSC) on Tuesday initiated proceedings against nine individuals implicated in the tragic killing of four police officers during a riot in a town on the Desert Highway, proximate to the southern city of Ma’an in December last year. Colonel Abdelrazzaq Dalabeeh, who was honored posthumously with a promotion to brigadier, succumbed to gunshot wounds while on duty. Dalabeeh, alongside other security personnel, was engaged in an operation to restore order against rioters and lawbreakers in the Al Husseinieh district of Ma’an in mid-December 2022, as detailed in a police report from that time. Subsequent to this tragic event, on December 19 specifically, three additional officers were slain during a raid on the hideout of the suspects believed to be responsible for Colonel Dalabeeh’s killing. The fallen officers were identified as Captain Ghaith Rahahleh, Second Lieutenant Mutaz Najada, and Corporal Ibrahim Shaqarin. Of the nine defendants, one remains at large and will be tried in absentia. They face a myriad of severe charges, including the orchestration of terrorist acts, membership of an organization with the objective of committing acts of terrorism against the Kingdom’s citizens, possession of weapons for the purpose of executing terrorist activities, and participation in terrorist and armed factions. Additionally, the accused are being charged with conspiring to undertake acts of terror and propagating the philosophies of a terrorist organization, among other serious charges. When queried about these charges, all defendants pleaded not guilty. The court resolved to carry on with the trial for the absconding accused in his absence. The next court hearing has been scheduled for July 4th of the current year.

Source: Jordan News Agency