Damascus, July 15 (SANA) The second trial session of defendant Wassim al-Assad opened before the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus on Wednesday over charges including war crimes, crimes against humanity and other offenses committed during the rule of the deposed regime.
The hearing, presided over by Judge Fakhr al-Din Mustafa al-Aryan, was attended by representatives of Syrian and international human rights organizations. The session included testimony from prosecution witnesses, along with the presentation of documents, photographs and video recordings.
The court held its first hearing on June 24, when Judge al-Aryan read the indictment against Wassim al-Assad.
According to the indictment, Wassim al-Assad is accused of organizing and leading irregular armed groups under the command of Brig. Gen. Ghiyath Dalla, a brigade commander in the deposed regime’s Fourth Division led by Maher al-Assad, beginning in early 2011.
The groups were involved in military operations targeting civilian areas in Eastern Ghouta, particularly the town of al-Mleiha, resulting in the deaths of large numbers of civilians.
The indictment also charges Wassim al-Assad with responsibility for a killing in the city of Jaramana, involvement in massacres committed during those operations, public incitement to violence, drug trafficking and smuggling, as well as robbery and extortion.
During the opening hearing, Judge al-Aryan said the acts constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, in addition to violations of the Syrian Penal Code.
The hearing came a day after the same court held its fifth session in the trial of Atef Najib, who also faces charges of committing crimes against the Syrian people during the rule of the deposed regime.
The proceedings form part of Syria‘s transitional justice process, under which the judiciary is prosecuting individuals accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the deposed regime.
R A H / ABD
