Eight-year jail term for Pakistani worker who molested boy

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a June Criminal Court ruling sentencing a Pakistani man to eight years in prison after convicting him of molesting a child in the capital in April.

The court declared the man guilty of molesting an eight-year-old boy in a supermarket and handed him the maximum punishment of eight years in prison for the molesting of a child.

Court papers said the victim went to buy groceries from a nearby shop on April 28 and the defendant, who worked there, took him to a secluded area in the shop.

“The defendant undressed the victim, kissed him and assaulted him sexually,” court documents said, noting that “the child returned home and was quiet and did not talk to anyone and was crying most of the time”.

The victim’s mother noticed the change in his behaviour and upon questioning him “he informed her about the sexual assault at the supermarket and she alerted the authorities”, the court verdict added.

The higher court ruled that the Criminal Court followed the proper procedures and the defendant deserved the verdict he received.

The Court of Cassation judges were Mohammad Ibrahim, Naji Zu’bi, Yassin Abdullat, Hamad Ghzawi and Bassem Mubeidin.