The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) lifted immunity for several ministers in a rare move aimed at investigating charges of corruption, a Palestinian official said Thursday.
The PNA commission against corruption presented the names of some ministers to President Mahmoud Abbas who accepted to withdraw their immunity, said Rafiq Al-Natsha, the head of the commission.
The ministers are members of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's government in the West Bank, Al-Natsha told Xinhua, refusing to reveal the number of ministers or their names. He noted lifting the immunity was done in coordination with Fayyad.
"The investigation is over violations involving corruption," he said, adding "if any of the ministers was indicted, he would be sent for trial."
This is the first time the PNA announces ministers, still in office, lost their immunity.
Naim Abu Al-Homos, secretary-general of Fayyad's cabinet, refused to comment on Al-Natsha's announcement.
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