AMMAN — A Jordanian state security court convicted a former top aide to King Abdullah II and a member of the royal family on Monday for plotting a coup against the monarchy.
The two men were also sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Bassem Awadallah, a dual Jordanian-US citizen and former chief of Jordan’s royal court, and Sharif Hassan Bin Zaid, a distant cousin of the king, were found guilty of incitement against the state and sowing sedition.
They were arrested in April over the allegations they collaborated with Abdullah’s half-brother Prince Hamzah to foment unrest.
Hamzah has only made rare public appearances since the accusations came to light earlier this year.
Hamzah has denied that he was part of a foreign plot.
After the royal family mediated the dispute, Hamzah pledged allegiance to the king and was spared prosecution. — Agencies-Saudi Gazette
