The Grand Criminal Court has decided on Sunday, October 20, 2019, to refer a defendant, who suffers from schizophrenia to the National Mental Health Centre for indecently assaulting an 8-year-old girl inside her uncle's home.

One day in 2016, the girl was sitting in the guest room of her uncle's home, which is near her family home and the defendant's home.

The defendant entered the room, which prompted the girl and her cousin to shout and ask for help. However, the defendant asked her to calm down.

He then took the girl's clothes off, raped her and left her bleeding.

As they heard her shouts, the girl's cousin and brother hurried up to the room and took her to a nearby hospital, where she was provided with the necessary first aid and treatment.

Psychiatrists who examined the defendant said that he suffers from a mental illness, a state of acute psychosis that evolves over time into a state of schizophrenia and that he is at the same mental age of those who are likely to suffer from this illness.

Psychiatrists have also said that when the crime took place almost three years ago, the defendant was suffering from symptoms associated with this mental illness.

Based on article 299 of the Jordanian Penal Code related to virginity and article 301 1/B by virtue of article 92 of the Penal Code and article 233/4 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Court declared the defendant not liable for the felony as it has been found that he has not yet been cured of the illness and that he may still cause harm to people in the society.

The Court has also announced that the accused will be detained at the National Mental Health Centre until he is completely cured of the illness based on a medical report submitted by three psychiatrists working in the public sector.