RAMALLAH, July 15: A retired Palestinian security officer died on Sunday of injuries sustained after falling from a window while in Palestinian custody, security sources said.

Osama Aql Mansur, 49, was pronounced dead at a Ramallah hospital, where he was transported suffering serious injuries. His brother said he believed Mansur had been murdered.

“This citizen is a retired security officer who was being held by the intelligence services in Ramallah on suspicion of corruption involving the sale of land,” a security source said on condition of anonymity.

“He fell from a building and died, but we do not know if he fell or was pushed,” the source added.

The details were confirmed by a second security source, who said the man was being investigated on suspicion of having “manipulated land records and sold land to Israel.” Reached by phone, Mansur's brother Hassan said the family held the Palestinian Authority responsible for the death.—AFP