Man handed 18-month prison term for drug possession

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a December State Security Court (SSC) ruling, sentencing a drug dealer to 18 months in prison after convicting him of possessing illegal narcotics in Amman in April of last year.

The court declared the defendant guilty of obtaining over one kilogramme of illegal narcotics on October 27 with the intent of selling the drugs in the local market.

The SSC also ordered the defendant to pay JD1,500 in fines.

Court documents said the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) learnt the defendant was in possession of illegal narcotics and was planning to sell it in his neighbourhood.

“The AND agents raided the defendant’s house and found the illegal drugs in his possession,” court documents said. 

The defendant contested the SSC’s ruling through his lawyer, who argued that the court “did not provide solid evidence to implicate his client”.

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.

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