Amman Court Jails Mosque Muezzin Six Months for Stealing Electricity

A judicial body in the Jordanian capital, Amman, recently concluded proceedings against a mosque muezzin charged with theft and attacking state services. The case highlighted a stark contrast between the religious dignity associated with the call to prayer and the strictures of the law. The individual, entrusted with maintaining trust within the community, ultimately faced incarceration following an investigation into unauthorized energy consumption.

Investigation Traces Illegal Power Links

The unraveling of the scheme began when field teams identified sudden irregularities and unjustified flows within electrical supply networks managed by service companies in the area. Technical evidence gathered during the tracking of leak lines and suspicious extension paths directed inspectors straight to the muezzin’s residence. Consequently, authorities immediately transferred the file to security and judicial bodies to resolve the incident.

Court documents revealed that the suspect executed a maneuver designed to circumvent legal regulations. He established secret, direct connections from the public grid while simultaneously disconnecting his original meter from service. This setup allowed him to access electricity free of charge, evading standard monitoring devices.

Court Ruling on Evidence and Charges

The East Amman Magistrate Court issued its final decision after the defendant challenged a previous ruling. While the judicial panel acquitted the accused of the specific charge of "actual tampering with the meter" due to a lack of direct physical evidence, they applied the established legal principle that doubt is interpreted in favor of the accused. However, the court confirmed that the presence of illegal connections and the actual benefit derived from them constituted proof of theft.

Based on these findings, the enforceable verdict mandated a six-month imprisonment term. The sentence also included the imposition of applicable fees and legal financing costs on the convicted individual.