The Jordan Times

JORDAN: 2 convicted murderers executed

2 people, a Jordanian and an Egyptian national, were hanged at Swaqa prison at dawn on Wednesday, official sources said.

The executions of Srour Abdul Qader and Jundi Ali were the 1st to be carried out in the Kingdom since the beginning of the year.

Abdul Qader, who was convicted by the Criminal Court of murdering a nine-year-old girl in Zarqa in September 2000, asked for God's mercy minutes before being escorted by security officers to the gallows, according to one official who attended the executions.

He was convicted of murdering Amal Mohammad on Sept. 9, 2000, in a deserted area behind an iron factory in Zarqa.

According to court papers, the defendant met the child in the Zarqa market and convinced her to accompany him, saying he was planning to buy her some clothes.

Abdul Qader took the child to a deserted area where he attempted to rape her, but she started screaming for help, the court said.

It added that "to conceal the incident, the defendant smashed the girl's skull with a brick, killing her, and fled the scene."

Police apprehended Abdul Qader a few days later after being tipped off by individuals who said they last saw the victim walking with the suspect.

Ali, a 46-year-old Egyptian national, was the 2nd man executed on Wednesday. He sought mercy from God and asked to be buried in Jordan, the official source told The Jordan Times.

He was sentenced to death by the Criminal Court in June 2001 after he was found guilty of murdering the husband of his friend in a farm in Karak.

The victim's wife, Afaf Said, was convicted of being an accomplice and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Ali's son, Mohammad, was cleared of complicity in the murder last June.

Court papers said the victim used to transport vegetables to a farm where the defendant worked and they became friends. The woman started complaining to Ali and his son of alleged abuse and mistreatment by her husband, and that he hoarded his money. She offered Ali JD5,000 to kill her husband and he agreed, the court added.

According to court transcripts, the defendant lured the woman's husband to a farm, offered him a strong mix of alcohol, strangled him with his hands, and then sat and smoked a cigarette with the victim's wife.

Father and son then transported the body to Amman, and dumped it in a deserted area near the Seventh Circle, it added.

A Royal Decree was issued recently ratifying the Criminal and Cassation Courts' rulings against Qader and Ali.

Wednesday's executions were attended by government officials, the prison director, an Islamic clergyman and other officials.