Suspect in North Amman armed robbery case in custody

AMMAN — Police are currently questioning a suspect who reportedly robbed a currency exchange shop in a northern Amman neighbourhood last week.

The suspect reportedly entered the currency exchange shop on March 9, after which he “waved a sharp object and demanded cash”, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

The suspect escaped with JD7,000 in cash, the police official told The Jordan Times.

Photos of a man fully dressed in black and covering most of his face with a scarf while entering a shop circulated on social media platforms shortly following the police’s announcement that an exchange shop was robbed.

The police official said a special investigation team from the Criminal Investigation Department and the Northern Amman Police Department joined forces to investigate the incident.

The special task force team was able to collect evidence and pinpoint a suspect, according to Sartawi.

The task force team raided the suspect’s home and “arrested him without any major incident”, according to Sartawi.

“Police were able to retrieve part of the stolen cash since the suspect confessed to depositing some of the money in his personal bank account,” Sartawi added, without revealing the amount recovered.

The suspect was referred to the State Security Court prosecution office for further questioning and indictment, according to a statement by the Public Security Directorate.

The March 9 robbery is the second to target a currency exchange shop in the Kingdom in exactly one month.

On February 9, a man reportedly entered a money exchange shop in Irbid, jumped over the counter and cleared the drawers, escaping with JD11,000 in cash.

Meanwhile, several armed robberies have targeted financial establishments and other entities in recent months.

In January, two suspects reportedly robbed a gas station at gunpoint in northern Shouneh, escaping with JD1,700.

The two suspects attacked the station employee with a blunt object while pumping gas.

Police announced then that one of the suspects was arrested, and that police were able to retrieve a portion of the stolen cash.

In June 2020, a currency exchange near Queen Alia Airport Highway was robbed as several suspects entered the premises waving guns at the employees and demanding cash.

The suspects escaped with JD3,000 in cash, and no one was injured in the incident.

If convicted of the charges of armed robbery with excessive force, the suspect could receive a minimum of five years in prison.