Court upholds sentence for man convicted of sexual activity with minor

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a February Criminal Court ruling sentencing a man to seven years in prison after convicting him of engaging in consensual sexual activities with a 16-year-old girl in Amman in July 2017.

The court ruled that the defendant engaged in sexual activities with the minor, who is his neighbour, on two occasions in July and handed him the maximum punishment.

Court documents said the defendant and the victim had developed a relationship almost 18 months before the incidents.

On the second occasion, the court maintained, the defendant took the victim on a ride where “the two engaged in sexual activities”.

“The victim returned home and her family discovered that she went out with her neighbour so they beat her up and contacted the police who came and arrested the defendant,” the court said.

The victim was sent to the Family Protection Department for further questioning and to follow up on the incident, the court added.

In its ruling, the Criminal Court said it relied on the victim’s testimony and DNA evidence that linked the defendant to the crime.

 The defendant contested the ruling, charging that the victim provided contradictory statements to the authorities, according to court transcripts.

The higher court, however, ruled that the Criminal Court followed the proper proceedings when sentencing the defendant, and that he deserved the verdict he received.

The Court of Cassation judges included Mohammad Ibrahim, Naji Zubi, Yassin Abdullat, Bassem Mubeidin and Hammad Ghzawi.