Luweibdeh building collapse case: 2 sentenced to 3 years in prison 

AMMAN — The Amman Magistrates Court on Tuesday sentenced two men to three years in prison each in the Jabal Luweibdeh building collapse case, which left 14 people dead and dozens injured in September 2022.

A third defendant, a maintenance technician who stood trial in the same case, was acquitted by the court.

The three defendants were standing trial on 14 charges of involuntary manslaughter and nine charges of causing bodily harm in connection with the building collapse in the capital on September 13, 2022.

The defendants, who pleaded not guilty during their opening trial and were released on bail, include the maintenance supervisor, a maintenance technician and the heir of the building owner, who was responsible for supervising the property.

The building owner’s attorney, Bassam Fraihat, said he plans to appeal the verdict in a higher court.

“I believe that the verdict is not fair, since the defence was unable to submit the totality of evidence in the case,” Fraihat told The Jordan Times.

Several experts tasked with examining the site testified in previous court hearings that maintenance work on the building, including the removal of a structurally integral column and wall, caused it to collapse.

Witnesses also reported that previous construction work had caused cracks in the building.

The three defendants were arrested shortly after the building collapsed, and were released on bail one month after being detained.

The law stipulates that in such cases, defendants cannot be detained for more than one month based on misdemeanour charges.

“The two indicted defendants will remain free until the higher court either upholds the ruling or overturns it,” according to Fraihat.

The trial, which began on September 25, included 45 sessions in which the court heard several defence and prosecution witnesses, including construction experts, forensic physicians and the victims’ families, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Tuesday.

Eight of the 14 families of the victims who perished in the collapse dropped charges against the defendants, according to Petra.