8-year jail term upheld for man who molested girl

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld an August Criminal Court verdict sentencing a Syrian refugee to eight years in prison after convicting him of molesting a refugee child in the Zaatari refugee camp in June.

The court declared the defendant guilty of molesting the 11-year-old child on June 10 and handed him the maximum punishment.

Court papers said the victim, who resided with her family in the refugee camp, went to buy cigarettes for her father.

When she left the shop, the court added, the defendant saw her “then grabbed her inside his caravan where he attempted to undress her by force”.

“The victim resisted but the defendant managed to molest her. She then left quickly, crying, and informed her family who alerted the authorities,” court documents said.

The defendant had contested the court ruling claiming that “the prosecution failed to provide any solid evidence to implicate him in the case”. 

The higher court ruled that the verdict was accurate and that the defendant deserved the punishment he received. 

The Court of Cassation tribunal comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Yassin Abdullat, Naji Zubi, Nayef Samarat and Bassem Mubeidin.