AMMAN --Following the decision of the Higher Court of Justice to reject the lawsuit against the expropriation of the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAGorg) buildings in the Abdali area, Mr. Omar Atout, TAGorg’s Legal Consultant stated, “the case was filed based on that the expropriation decision shows the defective elements of the administrative decisions.
He added that the sale of several pieces of land following their expropriation and upon the approval of the expropriating party requires the retrieval of such a decision from the Cabinet itself."
Atout noted “as Jordanian citizens, we live by the Jordanian laws and judicial system.”
The attorney revealed that another case is still pending at the Criminal Court filed by Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, TAGorg chairman, related to the submission of a false statement by the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), to which the Higher Court might have based its decision on, that falls contrary to the provisions of Article 266 of the Penal Code.
He noted that the procedures for a lawsuit to be filed at the Civil Court have been initiated to claim for damages inflicted on TAGorg as a result of GAM's abuse and misuse of authority.
Atout said that Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh has made an announcement on 12/2/2008 at a seminar held on the concept of expropriation for the public benefit, stating that the TAGorg will not proceed with evacuating its buildings as long as its case is pending in the courts, adding that a follow-up for the case will continue until it reaches the highest levels of litigation and final decisions from the civil and criminal courts are reached.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh re-confirmed his respect to the Jordanian judicial system as well as his pride in living in a state of law as aspired by His Majesty King Abdullah II, remarking that this legal battle serves only as evidence of the veracity of His Majesty's will.