Molestation of minor lands man in jail for five years

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a May Criminal Court ruling sentencing a man to five years in prison after convicting him of molesting a teenage girl in Amman in May 2018.

The court declared the defendant guilty of molesting the 17-year-old girl in a forest area in Amman on May 21 and handed him the maximum sentence.

Court papers said the victim was at her home smoking when her father entered the room and started cursing at her.

“The victim called the defendant to inform him of the incident and he asked her to leave the house and meet him in a nearby area,” according to the court transcripts.

The defendant found the minor and took her to a forest area, the court documents stated.

“The defendant then undressed the woman by force and molested her while she screamed,” court papers added. 

The defendant was unable to continue the sexual assault because the victim fought and resisted his attempts, according to court documents.

The defendant did not appeal the verdict, while the Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the sentence.

The higher court ruled that the Criminal Court proceedings were accurate and that the defendant was given the appropriate punishment.

The Court of Cassation judges were Mohammad Ibrahim, Naji Zu’bi, Bassem Mubeidin, Yassin Abdullat and Majid Azab.