Suspect arrested in 1999 case involving murder of toddler

AMMAN — Police on Sunday announced the arrest of a man who allegedly murdered a child in Aqaba over two decades ago, official sources said.

The suspect reportedly confessed to killing a two-year-old child in 1999 and dumping her body in a deserted building, Police Spokesperson Amer Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

The police official added that a special unit has been tasked with reopening such unsolved murders.

"The investigations yielded new evidence that led investigators to an Arab national who was a resident in Aqaba at the time of the incident and is now living in Zarqa," Sartawi said.

The suspect reportedly confessed to "killing the child accidentally after holding her, as she slipped and died”, according to the police official.

The suspect claimed that "he panicked and dumped the child's body in a deserted place", the police official added. 

The suspect was referred to a criminal court prosecutor for further questioning, according to a statement from the Public Security Directorate.

The statement added that the suspect will remain detained at a correctional and rehabilitation centre pending further investigation.