Man jailed for molesting daughter

AMMAN  — The Court of Cassation has upheld an August Criminal Court ruling sentencing a Syrian refugee man to a maximum prison term after convicting him of molesting his daughter in the Zaatari refugee camp March.

The court declared the defendant guilty of molesting his 16-year-old daughter and handed him a five-year and four month prison term.

On March 14, the court said, the defendant was alone with his daughter at home and decided to molest her.

“He undressed the girl, placed his hand on her mouth and sexually assaulted her then asked her not to inform anyone,” court documents said.

When the victim’s mother returned home, the court maintained, the victim informed her of the incident and they filed a complaint against the father.

The defendant had confessed to the incident in front of the police and Criminal Court prosecutor and did not appeal the verdict to a higher court, the court said.

However, any verdict issued by the Criminal Court that is five years or over is automatically reviewed by the Court of Cassation within 30 days of its issuance.

The Criminal Court general attorney had asked the higher court to uphold the sentence.

The higher court ruled recently that the verdict was accurate and that the defendant deserved the punishment he received. 

The Court of Cassation tribunal comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Yassin Abdullat, Naji Zubi, Nayef Samarat and Bassem Mubeidin.