Cassation Court upholds over 3 years' sentence for drug dealer

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a September 2022 State Security Court (SSC) ruling, sentencing a man to over three years in prison after convicting him of possessing two kilogrammes of marijuana with the intent of selling it in the local market in Karak Governorate April 2022.

The court declared the defendant guilty of planting and possessing illegal narcotics on April 9 in Quwayrah and handed him a five-year prison term.

The SSC also ordered the defendant to pay JD5,000 in fines.

However, the court decided to reduce the fine to JD3,500 and the prison term to three years and four months in prison to give the defendant a second chance in life.

Court documents said the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) learnt the defendant was planting and possessing illegal narcotics at his home.

 The officers raided the defendant’s house and upon searching his home they found marijuana planted in the backyard of his house, according to court transcripts.

The defendant contested the SSC’s ruling through his lawyer, who argued that “the SSC prosecution office did not provide any evidence that the planted marijuana in the farm belonged to the defendant”.

Meanwhile, the SSC prosecution office asked the higher court to uphold the sentence and the fine imposed on the defendant.

The higher court maintained that the SSC had followed the proper procedures in issuing the sentences against the defendant.

“It was clear to the court that the defendant confessed willingly to planting and possessing the illegal drugs,” the higher court said.

The Court of Cassation judges presiding were Mahmoud Ebtoush, Majid Azab, Fawzi Nahar, Ibrahim Abu Shamma and Mohammad Shreiri.