Nayrouz News Agency : The State Security Court (SSC) Wednesday issued a 9-charge indictment against 17 persons, including a fugitive, who brutally assaulted a 16-year-old boy in Zarqa last month, chopping off his upper limbs an gouged out one of his eyes.

The nine counts included "forming a gang of evil men, attempted murder, causing permanent disability, criminal kidnapping, rape, carrying out a terrorist act and spreading fear among people, carrying and possessing blunt instruments, carrying and possessing a firearm without a license, and resisting security forces".

Furthermore, the court charged the whole group with jointly carrying out a terrorist act that would endanger the safety of society, spread fear among citizens and endanger their lives using a firearms.

The court decided to try the 17th defendant in absentia, after informing him by official means and daily newspapers to turn himself in to police.

All of the defendants denied the charges against them.

The court decided to hire a lawyer for three defendants after they said that they do not have the financial ability to hire a lawyer for their defense.

Presiding Judge, Lit. Col. Mawfaq Masa'eed said the court will resume hearings in the case next Sunday, hold two weekly sessions and is expected to hear 26 witness testimonies.