Jordanian court refuses to try former water minister

El-Solh court in Oman refused to try former Jordanian Minister of Water Munzir Haddadin in association with the water pollution crisis in Amman this summer.

In its decision, the court said that the higher council is the body with jurisdiction over Haddadin.

The Society for Consumer Protection, a consumer right organization , lodged a claim before the court against the water minister and a number of officials.

The court said that immunity from the Jordanian courts is given by the constitution to ministers in crimes committed while the ministers are doing their job.

The Jordan Times said that ministers can be tried by the higher council, but only after their case is referred there by a two-thirds vote in the Lower House of the Jordanian Parliament.

Drinking water in parts of Amman this summer was contaminated with organic materials, making it undrinkable. The problem led to Haddadin's resignation and contributed to the resignation of Prime Minister Abdul-Salam al-Majali.