US embassy cable - 04AMMAN9521

UNCLAS AMMAN 009521 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR CA/OCS/ACS/NESA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CJAN, PTER, JO 
SUBJECT:  JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE - DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF SAMI KHOSHABA LATCHIN 
 
REF:  A) AMMAN 6983, B) STATE 169808 
 
1.  ON NOVEMBER 10, 2004, POST RECEIVED A DIPLOMATIC 
NOTE FROM THE JORDANIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
(MFA), IN RESPONSE TO OUR DIPLOMATIC NOTE NUMBER 910 
DATED AUGUST 10, 2004, CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF 
JUSTICE'S REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN A CRIMINAL 
INVESTIGATION (REF. B). 
 
2.  THE MFA NOTE INDICATED THAT THE CENTRAL BANK 
CANNOT PROVIDE SUCH ASSISTANCE BECAUSE ARTICLE 45 OF 
THE CENTRAL BANK LAW AND ARTICLES 72 AND 73 OF THE 
BANKS LAW ENFORCE COMPLETE SECRECY ON BANK ACCOUNTS. 
ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS NO JUDICIAL COOPERATION TREATY 
BETWEEN THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN AND THE UNITED 
STATES OF AMERICA THAT ORGANIZES THE BASICS OF 
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES. 
 
3.  COMMENT:  IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE TIMELINESS 
OF GOJ RESPONSES TO OUR DIP NOTE INQUIRIES, LEGATT HAS 
ESTABLISHED A TICKLER FILE SYSTEM TO CHECK WITH THE 
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS EVERY 60 DAYS ON THE 
STATUS OF UNANSWERED INQUIRIES.  REGARDING OBTAINING 
POSITIVE RESPONSES TO OUR REQUESTS, LEGATT, DOJ/OIA 
AND CHARGE HAVE HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MINISTER OF 
JUSTICE AND THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO EXPLAIN 
OUR LEGAL PROCESSES AND THE FACT THAT THE USG NEEDS 
RAPID -- AND AFFIRMATIVE -- RESPONSES FOR LAW 
ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES.  THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR IS 
EXAMINING MATERIALS PROVIDED AND SHOULD PROVIDE A 
RESPONSE SOON.  DOJ/OIA WILL BE COMING TO JORDAN IN 
JAN/FEB 2005 FOR FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOJ IN 
THIS REGARD. 
 
HALE