Damascus, Oct. 13 (SANA) Damascus’ Fourth Criminal Court, which specializes in transitional justice, held 19 hearings on Monday in cases involving defendants accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity over alleged abuses against civilians under the deposed regime, the National Commission for Transitional Justice said.
The hearings included reviews of case files and prosecution evidence and claims. Several proceedings were adjourned to allow for defense preparations, witness summonses and the completion of legal notifications.
Prosecution seeks maximum penalties
In hearings involving 10 defendants accused of carrying arms within the ranks of the deposed regime and committing crimes against civilians, prosecutors presented evidence, said the defendants were guilty and requested the maximum penalties. All 10 denied the charges. The court adjourned the cases to Oct. 26 for further prosecution claims and defense proceedings.
In a separate case, Mohamed Reda, son of Imad Malo, charged with false accusation, denied the allegations. The court postponed the hearing until Oct. 26 to summon public witnesses.
Other cases adjourned
Several other cases were adjourned, mainly to complete procedural notifications, including proceedings involving Tamam Ali Ghanem and Ziad Ghanem; Ahmad Hussein al-Jumaa and Mohamed Hussein al-Jumaa; and defendants including Mohamed Jihad Hamwi, Mahmoud Mohamed Tahn and Mohamed Saleh Nazi.
Hearings involving Ali Tamees and several co-defendants, as well as other defendants who were absent, were also postponed. Most of these cases were rescheduled for Oct. 28, while the case involving the al-Jumaa defendants was set for Oct. 26. Some proceedings involving absent defendants, including individuals reported to be in hospital, did not receive a new date in the announcement.
Commission stresses due process, urges submission of evidence
Radif Mustafa, head of the Accountability and Prosecution Department at the National Commission for Transitional Justice, said the continuing trials and the number of cases and defendants reflected the scale of the judicial workload.
He said accountability was proceeding through legal channels, stressing that defendants’ right to a defense was guaranteed and that decisions on guilt rested with the competent courts.
Mustafa urged victims, their families and anyone with complaints, testimony, documents or reliable information to submit them through official channels, saying all information should be subject to legal verification.
Earlier this month, the court heard public witnesses in cases involving Joni Daoud al-Qablan, Abdullah Nayef Bakkar and Mohamed Akkash al-Samiz.
Earlier rulings against former regime figures
In August, the Fourth Criminal Court issued rulings against 10 prominent figures from the deposed regime, including fugitive Bashar al-Assad and former military, security, political and religious officials. The rulings included death and life sentences. Some were issued in the presence of defendants, including Atef Najib, Waseem al-Assad and Ahmad Hassoun, while others were issued in absentia against fugitives.
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