Man sentenced to 18 months in prison for drug possession

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

The court declared the defendant guilty of the possession of three bags of hashish and one bag of marijuana 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 monitored his movements.

“The AND agents raided his home and found the illegal narcotics 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.

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

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