Khaberni - The first body in the Amman Criminal Court issued a judgment sentencing a man in his thirties to five years in temporary forced labor, after convicting him of stealing four cartons of cigarettes and assaulting the owner of a commercial shop.
The incident dates back to 17/5/2025, when the complainant - a supermarket owner in Rashid suburb - was present in his shop, when the accused arrived and requested four cartons of cigarettes.
Later that day, the accused placed the cartons of cigarettes on the table, and when the shop owner asked him to pay, he picked them up and fled the scene. During his escape, he assaulted the shop owner by hitting him with one of the cigarette cartons, causing a wound on his right hand, then got into a taxi and fled, according to the opinion.
The taxi driver was summoned, who identified the accused through his photo, as the surveillance cameras showed his photo matching the person who committed the act. Based on the testimony of the shop owner and the driver, the Public Prosecution charged the accused with the felony of theft contrary to the provisions of Article 401/3 of the Penal Code.
During the trial chaired by Judge Ahmad Khalaf Abu Nuweir and member Judge Amani Al-Majali, the accused denied assaulting the shop owner. However, the court found that Article 399 of the Penal Code defines theft as taking someone else's property without their consent, and if accompanied by violence or harm, the punishment should not be less than five years.
After confirming the confession and the medical reports aligning with the complainant's statements, the court found that the facts fit the provisions of Article 401/3 of the Penal Code, and decided to sentence the accused to five years in temporary forced labor, including the period of detention. The verdict was issued in presence, effective immediately, and is subject to appeal.
