Amman - At least 150 senior Jordanian officials, including four lawmakers, have been referred to the public prosecutor after failing to divulge their financial standing in compliance with the law, officials said Saturday. They represent the first batch of hundreds of officials who are expected to be referred to the judicial authorities for being unable to meet the May 13 deadline set by the Financial Disclosure Law.
"A total of 150 officials have been referred to the public prosecution for failure to meet the financial disclosure deadline," the head of the Financial Disclosure Department (FDD), Nazem Aref, said.
A total of 2,913 officials and members of parliament have so far fulfilled the requirements of the law out of around 3,600, he said.
Under the law, any public official who fails to submit a financial disclosure statement by the set deadline faces between a week and three years in prison and a fine from 7 to 140 dollars.
The Financial Disclosure Law was enacted in November 2006 as part of a legislative package designed to promote accountability and boost the fight against corruption.
The legislation obliges the top layer of public officials and members of parliament to disclose their finances when taking up the post and every two years as long as they are in office.
They are also required to submit a financial statement that covers the assets owned by the spouse and children under 18 when they leave their jobs.
