2 men get jail terms for sexually assaulting minor

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a September Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a man to 10 years in prison after convicting him of sexually assaulting a minor in Amman in February 2015.

The court declared the defendant guilty of molesting the 14-year-old girl in February and handed him the maximum sentence.

A second man, who was also standing trial on the same charges, received a 20-year prison term for engaging in sexual activities with the minor, “who lost her virginity as a result of the sexual assault”, court documents said.

The second man did not appeal his verdict.

Court papers said the second defendant met the victim via Facebook and they started using WhatsApp application on a daily basis.

“The victim and the defendant developed a relationship and they decided to meet at her grandparents’ home at night,” court document said.

The two engaged in consensual sexual activities on several occasions while her grandparents were sleeping, according to the court document.

Few months later, the court maintained, the second defendant took the minor to the first defendant’s house.

“The first defendant molested the child and the sexual assault was filmed on his mobile,” the court maintained.

The Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the sentence against the defendant "because the punishment he received was proper".

The defence lawyer, meanwhile, asked the court to acquit his client because "the court relied on weak evidence and contradictory witness’ testimonies".

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

It was proven to the court that the defendant willingly confessed to engaging in sexual activities with the minor and therefore deserves the punishment he had received, the higher court ruled.

"The court also relied on scientific evidence, including the incriminating photos that were found in the defendant's mobile phone," court transcripts said.

The Court of Cassation judges were Mohammad Ibrahim, Majid Azab, Hammad Ghzawi, Nayef Samarat and Saeed Mugheid.