Man, woman imprisoned for sexual exploitation of two minors in Amman

The Court of Cassation has approved sentencing a defendant to five years of labor and his partner to three years and four months of for committing indecent acts against two minors who had left their parents’ homes. The victims were coerced into engaging in sexual activity within an apartment in Amman.

The Grand Criminal Court found the accused guilty of indecent assault, as per Article 298/2 of the Penal Code. Additionally, the court also convicted the accused of indecent assault under the provisions of both Articles 298/2 and 80/2 of the Penal Code.

However, the court declared the accused innocent of the crime of human trafficking. Furthermore, the accused was convicted of the misdemeanor of driving a female under the age of 18 to engage in sodomy with another person, as outlined in Article 310 of the Penal Code. The sentence for this offense was six months’ imprisonment and fines.

The defendants were acquitted of the misdemeanor related to giving intoxicants to a person under 18 years of age, as specified in Article 391/1/A of the Penal Code.

Notably, the court imposed the harshest penalties on both accused individuals: five years of temporary labor for one and three years and four months of temporary labor for the other.

The decision documented by Roya said that the first victim is 13 years old, and the second victim is 12 years old. They are friends.

The decision revealed that the first victim, desiring to leave her home outside the capital, Amman, pretended to go to school and met the second victim. The first victim sold her iPad for JD 15 to cover expenses during her absence from home. Together, they ventured to the city of Amman, visited a ladies’ salon, and then explored an area in Amman.

The court decision, the two victims encountered a girl who turned out to be recruiting girls for the accused. They then spent time in the area before heading to a house in Amman where one of the accused resided, known for involvement in prostitution. That night, the victims and others stayed at the accused's house.

The next day, the accused and another person accompanied the victims back to the apartment. One victim was heavily intoxicated. The accused attempted to coerce the victims into having sex, resulting in a physical altercation when one victim refused. The first victim was forced to commit prostitution.

A dispute arose among the accused and others over payment. The second victim managed to contact her mother, leading to police intervention. The Court of Cassation upheld the decision, stating it met all legal requirements and could not be overturned.