23/08/2012

Jordan Paralympians To Miss Games After Antrim Sex Charges

Three members of Jordan's Paralympian team have been told they will miss the Games after allegations of sex offences surfaced against them.

Faisal Hammash, Omar Sami Qaradhi and Motaz Al-Junadi are charged with sex offences in Antrim, where they were training for the Paralympics.

The Jordanian National Paralympic Committee has told Locog the athletes and trainer are no longer to be entered into the games and have returned to Jordan.

On Wednesday a court in Coleraine heard that King Abdullah of Jordan has taken a personal interest in the case, and a Jordanian embassy official offered bail sureties for the three men.

All three are members of the Middle Eastern country's Paralympics power-lifting team.

Faisal Hammash, 35, faces two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Omar Sami Qaradhi, 31, is charged with three counts of sexual assault and one of voyeurism. At least two of the alleged assaults were against children.

Motaz Al-Junadi, 45, faces one charge of sexual assault. All the offences are said to have taken place between 16 and 20 August.

The Jordanian Embassy in London released a statement regretting the incidents that led to the men's charges.

It said: "In line with its duties towards its citizens, the embassy provided direct consular support to the three members of the team charged with the offences.

"A senior diplomat from the embassy attended the hearings this morning at the Magistrates Court in Antrim, and posted bail for the three sportsmen pending their reappearance in Belfast for their trial in October.

"The embassy wishes to further express its appreciation to the courts for promptly appointing a defence lawyer for the three men and facilitating its Consular services to its citizens.

"The embassy in London wishes to reassure the courts of its continued cooperation and maintains utmost respect for the due process of the law."

(NE)

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