Sentence increase upheld for repeat sex offender convicted of molesting nephew

AMMAN — The Cassation Court has upheld a February Criminal Court decision increasing the sentence of a repeat sex offender who sexually assaulted his nephew in August.

The Criminal Court first handed the defendant a seven-year prison term after convicting him of molesting his 12-year-old nephew on August 26, 2018.

But the tribunal decided to increase the sentence to 12 years because “the defendant was a repeat sex offender”.

Court documents said the defendant asked his nephew for help to pick figs from a small field.

 When the two were alone, the court maintained, “the defendant drew a knife and asked the child to kiss him”.

“The defendant then molested the boy at knife point,” the court added.

The victim returned home and notified his family about the incident and they alerted the authorities, the court documents added.

The Cassation Court ruled that the Criminal Court’s judgement fell within the law, that the proceedings were proper and that the sentence passed was satisfactory.
The Cassation Court tribunal comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Yassin Abdullat, Bassem Mubeidin, Naji Zu’bi and Majid Azab.