Court upholds 4 years prison for drug dealer

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a July 2022 State Security Court (SSC) ruling sentencing a drug dealer to four years in prison after convicting him of possessing illegal narcotics in Amman in January of last year.

The court declared the defendant guilty of obtaining illegal narcotics (crystal meth) with the intent of selling the drugs to an undercover agent on January 3.

The SSC initially gave the defendant five years in prison for possession of illegal narcotics and ordered him to pay JD5,000 in fines.

The court reduced the prison term to four years to give the defendant a second change in life, but maintained the JD5,000 fine.

Court documents said the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) learned the defendant was in possession of illegal narcotics and sent one of its agents to pose as a buyer.

“The AND agent got in touch with the defendant and asked him for a stash of illegal drugs in return for JD100,” court documents said.

When the two met in Shmeisani area, AND agents immediately arrested the suspect, court papers added.

Upon searching the defendant, court papers said, “AND personnel found the crystal meth wrapped in aluminum paper on him”. 

The law enforcement officers also found the cell phone that was used to communicate with the undercover AND agent.

The law-enforcement agency officers escorted the defendant to his home where they found additional quantities of crystal meth at his residence, the court maintained.

The defendant contested the SSC’s ruling through his lawyer, who argued that “his client never confessed to possessing illegal narcotics”.

“My client’s mother has heart disease, and he is the only one that could take care of her and support her,” the lawyer said. Therefore, the lawyer maintained “I call on the court for mercy and to reconsider the punishment.”

Meanwhile, the SSC prosecution office asked the higher court to uphold the sentence and the fine imposed on the defendant.

The higher court maintained that the SSC had followed the proper procedures in issuing the sentence against the defendant.

“It was clear to the court after hearing law-enforcement officers that the defendant confessed willingly to possessing the illegal drugs when he was arrested,” the higher court said.

The Court of Cassation judges presiding were Mohammad Ibrahim, Majid Azab, Hayel Amr, Mohammad Shreiri and Ibrahim Abu Shamma.