Accountant confesses to burning office to cover up embezzlement — police

AMMAN — Police on Friday announced the arrest of an accountant who allegedly set fire to the office he worked in to steal JD100,000.

The suspect, who was not identified by police, was reportedly arrested after investigation linked him to embezzlement in the office, according to a statement released by the Public Security Department (PSD).

“Initial investigation indicated that the office was set ablaze by an unidentified individual but after thorough investigation and collecting evidence at the scene, investigators concluded that the suspect was the perpetrator,” the statement said.

The investigation led police to conclude that the person who set the office on fire was attempting to cover up the embezzlement, the statement added. 

Based on evidence provided by the crime lab and witnesses, police concluded that the “accountant was the main suspect”.

“Upon confronting him with evidence, the accountant confessed to setting the office ablaze to cover up the disappearance of JD100,000 he withdrew from the office accounts,” the PSD statement said.

PSD Spokesperson Maj. Amer Sartawi declined to elaborate on the date of the incident or the area where it happened.

“I cannot reveal any further information other than the statement that we issued,” Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

Police are still investigating the incident, according to the PSD statement.