US grand jury charges former Syrian prison official with torture
AFP |
Reuters
December 13, 2024
A federal grand jury in Los Angeles charged a former Syrian government official who headed the Damascus Central Prison from 2005 to 2008 with torture, the US Justice Department said.
Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 72, headed the Adra prison, as it is colloquially known, during that period, allegedly ordering subordinates to inflict severe physical and mental pain and suffering on political and other prisoners, the department said.
He was sometimes personally involved in such incidents, the department added in its statement.
Reuters could not immediately contact Alsheikh to seek comment.
The torture aimed to deter opposition to the regime Assad, the department said, adding that Alsheikh later allegedly lied about his crimes to obtain a US “green card”, or residence permit.
Alsheikh, who allegedly held positions in the Syrian police and the state security apparatus, was associated with the ruling Syrian Ba’ath Party and was appointed governor of the province of Deir Ez-Zour by Assad in 2011.
A superseding indictment returned today alleged that Alsheikh immigrated to the United States in 2020 and applied for citizenship in 2023.