Man gets 3 years in jail for drug possession

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a December State Security Court (SSC) ruling, sentencing man to three years in prison after convicting him of possessing illegal narcotics in the Dead Sea area in July.

The court declared the defendant, who is known to be a drug dealer, guilty of possessing three kilogrammes of marijuana on July 23 with the intent of consuming the illegal narcotics.

The SSC handed the defendant a three-year prison term for the offence of possessing illegal narcotics and ordered him to pay JD3,000 in fines.

Court documents said the defendant was heading to the Dead Sea area when he was pulled over for a routine check.

Upon searching his vehicle, court papers maintained, officers found the illegal narcotics in his vehicle and arrested him.

The defendant confessed to owning the illegal narcotics with the intent of consuming the illegal drugs, according to court papers.    

However, the defendant contested the SSC’s ruling through his lawyer, who argued that the court “did not take into consideration that the defendant confessed and expressed his regret for possessing the illegal narcotics”.

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 while issuing the sentences.

“It was clear to the court that the defendant confessed willingly to possessing the illegal drugs and, therefore, deserves the punishment he had received,” the higher court said.

The Court of Cassation judges presiding were Mohammad Ibrahim, Hayel Amr, Fawzi Nahar, Majid Azab and Nayef Samarat.