Seven-year jail term for man who molested 14-year-old boy

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a February Criminal Court ruling sentencing a man to seven years in prison after convicting him of molesting a child in Amman in August 2017.

The court declared the defendant guilty of molesting the 14-year-old boy on August 26 and offering alcohol to a minor and handed him the maximum punishment.

Court papers said that the defendant knew the victim because he worked in a barn tending and renting out horses.

On the day of the incident, the victim asked the defendant for a ride on one of the horses and he agreed.

“After finishing the ride, the defendant lured the victim to a deserted area where he offered him an alcoholic drink. After he saw that the boy became drunk and could no longer control his actions, he sexually assaulted him," court papers said, adding that when the defendant finished, “he slapped the young boy in the face and asked him to come back the following day”.

The victim went home and immediately alerted his family who contacted police and filed a complaint, the court added.

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

The Court of Cassation judges were Mohammad Ibrahim, Naji Zubi, Yassin Abdullat, Bassim Mubeidin and Saeed Mugheid.