Man gets six months in jail for drug possession

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a March State Security Court (SSC) ruling, reducing the sentence of a university student convicted of possessing illegal narcotics in Amman in November of last year.

The court declared the defendant guilty of possessing illegal narcotics and handed him an 18-month prison term and JD1,500 in fines.

However, the court decided to reduce the sentence to six months in prison and JD500 in fines “because the defendant is completing his higher studies in Saudi Arabia and would lose his residency”.

Court documents said the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) learnt the defendant was in possession of illegal narcotics and sent one of its agents to pose as a buyer.

“The AND agent got in touch with the defendant and asked him for a stash of illegal drugs in return for JD165,” court documents said.

When the two met, AND agents immediately arrested the suspect, court papers added.

Upon searching the defendant, court papers said, AND personnel found "dozens of illegal narcotics pills in his possession". 

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 Cassation Court bench comprised judges Mohammad Ibrahim, Majid Azab, Nayef Samarat, Hayel Amr and Fawzi Nahar.