Man gets 6-year jail term for drug possession

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a December State Security Court (SSC) ruling, sentencing a man to six years in prison after convicting him of possessing eight kilogrammes of marijuana with the intent of selling it in the local market in June 2021.

The court declared the defendant guilty of the planting and possession of the illegal narcotics on June 29 and handed him a six-year prison term.

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

Court documents said the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) learnt the defendant was planting and possessing illegal narcotics and raided the residence he was staying at.

“The AND agents found marijuana plants hidden in plastic bags ready to be sold in the local market,” court documents said.

The defendant contested the SSC’s ruling through his lawyer, who argued that “the defendant planted the marijuana for personal use and had no previous criminal record”.

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 possessing the illegal drugs and the seized amount is too large to be for personal use,” the higher court said.

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