New revelations will clear Chalabi of Jordanian fraud charges: spokesman

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040323/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_jordan_chalabi_bank&cid=1514&ncid=1473

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The Iraqi National Congress (INC) of Governing Council member Ahmad Chalabi said that new revelations will emerge soon clearing him of alleged wrongdoing in the bankruptcy of a Jordanian bank.


"New information, never released before, about the bankruptcy of Jordan's Petra Bank will soon emerge and demonstrate that the bank's hardships were tailor-made by ... senior Jordanian officials," Entifad Qanbar told reporters.


He charged that these officials, whom he did not identify, were in the pay of ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and allegedly worked hand in hand with members of the ousted regime to bring about the collapse of the bank.


Chalabi, a secular member of Iraq (news - web sites)'s majority Shiite community, has been convicted in absentia by a Jordanian court of fraud and embezzling 288 million dollars from Petra Bank into Swiss bank accounts.

more

[htuttle]

1. He's going to need more than 'revelations', I'd think

First, he'd have to turn himself over to Jordanian authorities, and attempt to appeal his case from jail (if that is even possible in Jordanian courts -- I have no idea).

Then, of course, even if he wins the appeal and gets back out of jail, he'd still have to answer for the charge of fleeing custody the first time.

I somehow doubt he's going to attempt this route.

[Hornito]

2. What b.s. .....

No doubt the neocons got Jordan to "fix" the charges, so their boy (Chalabi) can assume the presidency of Iraq come June. Nice and tidy.....

[SoCalDem]

4. For a "fee", everything is attainable

Chalabi is rolling in dough now..Our TAX DOLLARS

[daleo]

3. PNAC got to Jordan?

Pardon Chalabi or you're next.

[flamingpie2500]

5. Chalabi is catching on....Blame it all on the previous leader!

[0007]

6. I smell a big fat stinking rat!~

Is the U.S. trying to make this man Chalabi look creditable, so when the big turn over in Iraq is finalized, Ahmed Chalabi will have a big stick in favor of the U.S.? You can bet your fucking booty on that one.

[NNN0LHI]

8. He will go the way of the Shah Of Iran if the USA ever leaves Iraq

And that is a big if.

Don

[madrchsod]

7. didn`t the idf

rob the banks in the west bank? if i`m right those banks were Palestinian/Jordain banks.. interesting how things work out with sharon and his bitch.....

[yellowcanine]

9. The "right people" got paid?

Is it new revelations or a new infusion of cash that did the trick?

[rooboy]

10. Considering he still gets over $300,000 per month from the USA...

I'm sure he can afford to pay off whoever he needs to pay.

[Gloria]

11. I just posted an article in the new WMW that describes Chalabi as

possibly being included in a PARDON!

It came out Sunday, but I included it even though now there's this talk of his new evidence.....Islamists do not want him pardoned. They believe he's a crook...

[Gloria]

12. Here's the article--a pardon is all about pleasing the U.S.!!

2//Al Bawaba March 21, 2004

http://www.albawaba.com/headlines/TheNews.php3?action=story&sid=273120&lang=e&dir=



WIDE ROYAL PARDON IN JORDAN MAY INCLUDE CHALABI



Several Jordanian MPs have told Al Bawaba that unofficial talks between the parliament and the government over the issue of a wide royal pardon (general amnesty) are underway. Islamist deputies, who do not make up a majority in current parliament session, have expressed their satisfaction with the initiative, which they consider “a positive step by the government towards political openness”.

The current talks have also given rise to Ahmad Chalabi’s name, a powerful member of the Iraqi Interim Council, who was sentenced to22 years for fraud and embezzlement following the collapse of the Petra bank in1989 . Several political analysts expect the pardon to include Chalabi.


(SNIP)


“As Islamist deputies, we hope that financial crimes will not be included in this pardon, as any monetary interests that have been defrauded belong to the original owners…no one in government has the right to forgo such rights on someone else’s behalf,” Abu Sukkar concluded, referring to Ahmad Chalabi’s more than $300m lawsuit.


SNIP)


On the topic of Chalabi, (MP Jamal) Dmour explained that “Jordan is having to reconsider that way it handles its relationship with Iraq now that the old regime is gone…a fresh and clean start is required - one that does not carry any luggage from the past.”

“If Chalabi’s name needs to be included in the list of those pardoned to ensure good relations with Iraq, which I think are in Jordan’s best interest, then so be it. Jordan’s interests should come first when dealing with the issue of Ahmad Chalabi,” Dmour concluded.

[Cooley Hurd]

13. There's a rousing exoneration for ya...

"If Chalabi’s name needs to be included in the list of those pardoned to ensure good relations with Iraq, which I think are in Jordan’s best interest, then so be it."