AMMAN, Jordan

Jordan's Court of Cassation on Thursday upheld a guilty verdict against a former Jordanian official and a royal family member who were sentenced to 15 years in jail on charges of sedition.

According to the official Petra News Agency, the highest appeal court upheld the verdict against former chief of Jordanian royal court Bassem Awadallah and Sharif bin Zaid.

In July, Jordan's state security court found former chief of Jordanian royal court Bassem Awadallah and Sharif bin Zaid guilty for attempting to destabilize the Jordanian monarch.

Awadallah is a US citizen and a former chairman for Jordan's royal court and former finance minister. He also worked as special adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

On April 3, Awadallah and bin Zaid along with 16 others were arrested following an incident described by the royal court as "attempts to destabilize the security of the country."

However, King Abdullah II, on April 22, directed the release of the 16 and kept Awadallah and bin Zaid in custody.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar