Two former convicts jailed for violent robbery in Amman

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a May Criminal Court ruling, sentencing two former convicts to 20 and 12 years in prison after convicting them of robbing and attempting to murder a man in Amman in February 2020.

The Criminal Court declared the defendants guilty of attempted murder on February 2 in Sahab, and handed them 20 and 12 years in prison, respectively.

The court also declared the defendants guilty of resisting law enforcement officers, a charge levelled by the criminal court prosecutor.

Court papers said the two defendants met each other while serving time at a correctional and rehabilitation centre.

After their release from prison, the court maintained, the two got in touch with each other in early February and conspired to commit robbery.

On the day of the incident, the two targeted a man who was walking in the street, the court documents stated.

“The two men snatched the victim’s mobile phone and JD250, and when he resisted, one of the defendants stabbed him in the chest with a switchblade,” the court papers said.

The two defendants fled from the area, and the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, the court added.

The defendants were later arrested by police after being identified by the victim in a photo line-up, according to court papers. 

"The defendants resisted arrest, but were eventually brought to justice," the court said.

Investigators also retrieved a switchblade from one of the defendants that "had traces of blood on it", the court documents indicated.

The court maintained that DNA testing linked the blood found on the switchblade with that of the victim. 

The defendants did not appeal their sentences at a higher court.

The Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the sentences handed to the two defendants.

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

The Cassation Court bench comprised of judges Mohmoud Ebtoush, Majid Azab, Fawzi Nahar and Mohammad Shreiri.