Jordan bans reporting on corruption case

Jordan's military court chief has issued a gag order for a controversial graft trial, reflecting the sensitivity of a case involving top officials.

Maj. Gen. Youssef Faouri said Wednesday that reporting could only be done when the military State Security Court issued its verdict.

Gag orders are rare in Jordan, but corruption cases involving high level officials are potentially embarassing to the government and often concealed from the public.

Four Jordanians, including an ex-finance minister, were charged last week for bribery in connection with a $2.1 billion project to rehabilitate the country's sole oil refinery.

If convicted, the four could be sentenced to three years in jail.