Man sentenced to eight years in prison for molesting child

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation upheld a September Criminal Court ruling sentencing a man to eight years in prison for molesting a child in Amman in April.

The defendant was convicted of molesting a seven-year-old boy on April 25 and handed him the maximum sentence.

Court papers said that the victim went to the defendant’s house because they were neighbours.

“When the defendant’s family left the house, the defendant undressed the boy and assaulted him sexually,” court papers said.  

The victim immediately left the defendant’s house and informed his family who immediately alerted the authorities, the court stated.

The court said it relied on DNA testing in its ruling, which indicated that samples taken from the victim’s underwear belonged to the defendant.

The defendant contested the Criminal Court’s ruling through his lawyer, asking to receive a reduced sentence since “he is a young man and deserved a second chance in life”.

“The lawyer also stated that the victim’s family dropped charges against the defendant but still the court did not reduce the sentence.”

However, the Cassation Court ruled that the verdict was correct and the defendant deserved the ruling he received.

“The defendant does not benefit from a reduction in this case because the assault happened to a victim less than 18 years old and the law does not allow for reductions, even if the family dropped charges,” the higher court ruled.

The Cassation Court comprised of judges Yassin Abdullat, Mohammad Tarawneh, Naji Zu’bi, Bassem Mubeidin and Hammad Ghzawi.