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AMMAN — The Cassation Court upheld a May 2023 Criminal Court decision to increase the prison term of a man who engaged in consensual sexual activities with a minor in the Jordan Valley in May 2022.

The Criminal Court handed the defendant a seven-year prison term after convicting him of engaging in sexual activities twice with a 16-year-old in May.

However, the court decided to increase the sentence to nine years and four months because the “defendant caused the victim to lose her virginity”.

The court also refused to reduce the prison term because the victim was under 18, according to court transcripts.

Court documents said the defendant and the victim developed a relationship one year before the incident.

The two decided to meet alone in May, the court maintained.

“The defendant took the victim to his house and engaged in consensual sexual activities on two different occasions,” the court stated.

The matter was exposed a few weeks later after the victim complained of stomach pain, the court added.

“The victim’s family discovered that their daughter was pregnant and alerted the authorities,” court papers said.

The defendant was arrested and the victim was referred to the Family Protection Department for further examination and questioning, the court maintained.

The defendant did not contest the verdict at a higher court. 

Meanwhile, The Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the ruling.  

The Cassation Court ruled that the Criminal Court’s judgement fell within the law, that the proceedings were proper and that the sentence given was satisfactory.

The Cassation Court tribunal comprised judges Mahmoud Ebtoush, Majid Azab, Rizeq Abulfoul, Ibrahim Abu Shamm and Fawzi Nahar.

AMMAN – His Majesty King Abdullah departed Jordan on Thursday, on a working visit to London, which will be followed by a working visit to Boston and Washington, DC, in the United States.

HRH Crown Prince Hussein will accompany His Majesty on the working visit to the United States, according to a Royal Court statement. 

HRH Prince Ali was sworn in as Regent, in the presence of Cabinet members.

AMMAN — Rainwater that entered dams over the past 24 hours reached some 3 million cubic metres (mcm), which increased total storage in the Kingdom’s 15 main dams to 74mcm, which equals 25.6 per cent of their total storage of 288.128mcm, according to the Water Ministry/Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ). 

In a statement on Saturday, the ministry said that the rainfall covered most parts of the country, with the highest recorded in Amman's Bayader Wadi El Seer area, at 79.8 mm. 

The total amount of rainfall since the beginning of the wet season until this Thursday morning has raised the overall precipitation percentage to 22.9 per cent, compared to 60.3 per cent recorded during the same period last year, the ministry said. 

The ministry added that the rainfall positively impacted the dams, with the highest inflow recorded at Mujib Dam, which received 1.6mcm, bringing its total storage to 12.588mcm, or 51per cent of its total storage capacity.

King Talal Dam, Jordan's largest, received631,000 cubic meters, raising its storage to 35.290 mcm, representing 52.6 per cent of its capacity. 

- His Majesty expresses rejection of any attempts to annex land, displace Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank
- King renews call to maintain Gaza ceasefire, maximise aid delivery to all parts of Gaza 
- His Majesty urges int'l community to take on more efficient role towards de-escalation in West Bank, ending violations of Jerusalem's Muslim, Christian holy sites
- Abbas commends Jordan’s steady position in supporting Palestinian cause, Palestinians’ steadfastness on their lands

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, at a meeting on Wednesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, stressed the need to reach just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.

During the meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace and attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, His Majesty stressed Jordan’s unwavering support to the Palestinians in gaining their full legitimate rights.

The King underscored the need to stop settlement activities, expressing rejection of any attempts to annex land or displace Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, calling for supporting the steadfastness of Palestinians on their lands, according to a Royal Court statement. 

His Majesty pointed to Jordan’s close coordination with Arab and friendly countries in dealing with regional issues, as well as reaching calm in the region. 

The King renewed the call to maintain the Gaza ceasefire, and to maximise the delivery of humanitarian aid to all parts of the Strip.

His Majesty also urged the international community to take on a more efficient role towards de-escalation in the West Bank, and ending the violations of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, the statement said. 

At the meeting, President Abbas commended Jordan’s steady position, led by His Majesty, in supporting the Palestinian cause, and Palestinians’ steadfastness on their lands, as well as their legitimate rights.

He highlighted Jordan’s important role in supporting a sustainable Gaza ceasefire, commending the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts in maintaining the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which alleviates the suffering of Palestinians amid dire circumstances, the statement said. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh, and General Intelligence Department Director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Husni attended the meeting.

On the Palestinian side, Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s Executive Committee Hussein Sheikh, General Intelligence Service Director Majid Faraj, Senior Diplomatic Adviser to the President Majdi Khaldi, and Palestinian Ambassador to Jordan Atallah Khairi were in attendance.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah highlighted the need for the international community’s support for Palestinians in gaining their full legitimate rights, during a phone call on Wednesday with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

His Majesty stressed the need to step up international efforts to support the Palestinians and their steadfastness on their land, and stop settlement activities, reiterating Jordan’s rejection of any attempts to annex land or displace the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, a Royal Court statement said. 

The call also covered the need to ensure the Gaza ceasefire holds, as well as means to enhance the humanitarian response and ensure the delivery of sufficient aid.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, during a phone call on Wednesday with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stressed the need to maintain Arab coordination to efficiently address regional developments, especially in Gaza and the West Bank.

His Majesty warned of the dangerous attempts to displace Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, stressing that any solution will not be at the expense of the security and stability of Jordan and the region, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The King reaffirmed the need to step up Arab efforts to support the steadfastness of Palestinians on their land, maintain the Gaza ceasefire, and enhance the humanitarian response in the Strip, the statement said.  

The call also covered efforts to create a political horizon to achieve just and comprehensive peace, on the basis of the two-state solution.

The two leaders expressed keenness to maintain consultation, especially in light of current regional developments.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the prime minister of Saudi Arabia, in a phone call on Wednesday, discussed the latest regional developments, especially the dangerous situation in Gaza.

His Majesty stressed the need to stop settlement activities, expressing rejection of any attempts to annex land or displace Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, a Royal Court statement said. 

The King also called for stepping up Arab and international efforts to support Palestinians in gaining their legitimate rights and bolster their steadfastness on their land, as well as maintain the Gaza ceasefire.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a phone call on Wednesday, discussed current developments, especially in Gaza, the West Bank, and Syria.

His Majesty stressed the need to put a stop to settlement activities, expressing rejection of any attempts to annex land and displace the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, calling for ensuring Palestinians’ steadfastness on their land, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The King called for Palestinian unity and stepping up Arab and international efforts to ensure the Gaza ceasefire holds and bolster the humanitarian response in the Strip. 

The call also covered the importance of supporting the Syrian people and efforts to maintain Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and stability.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday met at Al Husseiniya Palace with heads of the Senate’s permanent committees. 

The meeting, attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, covered various local, regional, and international issues, a Royal Court statement said. 

Senate President Faisal Fayez and heads of the Senate’s permanent committees spoke about Senators’ outreach visits to the governorates to communicate with citizens, stressing Jordanians’ support for His Majesty’s leadership and positions.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi and Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh attended the meeting.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday held talks with Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, covering bilateral relations and regional developments.

The bilateral talks, followed by expanded ones held at Al Husseiniya Palace and attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, focused on means of enhancing the solid partnership between the two countries, according to a Royal Court statement. 

The meeting covered keenness of Jordan and Germany to carry on with joint projects in vital development sectors, like water and education.

In remarks at the beginning of the talks, His Majesty said that despite regional challenges over the past years, bilateral relations have grown and cooperation has enhanced, the statement said. 

The King also expressed his and Jordanians’ appreciation for Germany’s ongoing support for the Kingdom.

His Majesty said there are many opportunities that can be further explored between the two countries, and how they can work together to bring peace, solidarity, and prosperity to the Middle East. 

For his part, the German president highlighted the close cooperation between Jordan and Germany, noting that his country works with Jordan to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

He said he was happy to deliver a new batch of medical supplies to the Jordanian hospitals in Gaza on Tuesday, the statement said.

During the talks, His Majesty commended Germany’s support for peace efforts on the basis of the two-state solution, and for sending aid to Gaza.

The King also stressed the need to maintain the Gaza ceasefire, warning against escalations in the West Bank.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh, and Jordan’s Ambassador to Germany Fayez Khouri attended the meeting.