Man gets 7-year prison term for robbery, attempted rape

AMMAN — The Cassation Court has upheld a December Criminal Court ruling sentencing a man to seven years in prison after convicting him of robbery and attempting to rape a married woman in Irbid in March of last year.

The Criminal Court declared the defendant guilty of attempting to sexually assault the victim and robbing her house on March 5, and handed him the maximum sentence.

Court papers said the defendant decided to rob a house at night and climbed a ladder to enter it from the roof.

The victim was sleeping next to her young child and when the defendant saw her "he decided to sexually assault her and grabbed a kitchen knife and approached her", the court documents said.

"The defendant threatened to kill the victim's child if she did not undress herself," the court documents said.

The woman undressed "but the defendant was unable to rape her because she moved and struggled and he left after stealing a gold chain and JD2”, the court transcripts added.

The Criminal Court’s general attorney had asked the higher court to uphold the ruling against the defendant.

The defendant contested the Criminal Court's ruling, arguing that his sentence was based on weak evidence and that the victim provided inconsistent testimony.

The defendant also claimed that he "was subjected to torture and duress to confess and that he was innocent".

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

"It was proven to the court that the defendant confessed willingly to the charges and failed to provide any evidence to prove his innocence," the higher court ruled.

The court comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Yassin Abdullat, Naji Zubi, Majid Azab and Saeed Mugheid.