Amman- Jordanian Prime Minister Nader Dahabi said Wednesday that the authorities had so far referred to the State Security Court at least 202 firms dealing with foreign bourses on fraud charges.

He told the lower house of parliament that the judiciary so far managed to retrieve about 120 million dinars (170 million dollars) from firms which lured thousands of Jordanian citizens into investing their savings at those companies under the false goal of trading with foreign stock and currency markets.

The issue, which involved blocking the travel of scores of executives and partners at the suspected firms, occupied the attention of the Jordanian public over the past two months and drew criticism against the government from several law makers and the press.

The attacks prompted the government to enact new legislation that governs and imposes strict restrictions on trading with foreign bourses. (dpa)