Jordan’s former spy chief, Mohammed al-Dahabi, gets 13 years on corruption charges
King Abdullah II of Jordan dissolved parliament and called for early elections on October 4, 2012.
Jordan's former head of intelligence was handed a 13-year jail sentence today on charges of corruption, according to BBC News.
An Amman court found Mohammed al-Dahabi, brother to the former prime minister, guilty of embezzling public finances, money laundering, and abuse of office during his 2005-2008 term, said BBC.
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The harsh sentence is seen as a bow to the growing demands of protesters angered by political corruption there, said Pakistan's The News Tribe.
Opposition activity in Jordan has been on the rise, prompting the King to dissolve parliament last month in a bid for reform.
Judge Nashaat Akhras told Dahabi today: "You deserve the harshest punishment for being a traitor to the people who trusted you with a government position and state funds," reported Malta Today.
He has been ordered to repay nearly $30 million, said BBC.
Dahabi was arrested last February after officials were alerted to suspicious banking activity, according to AP.