The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus began on Wednesday the second session of the trial of the accused Wassim al-Assad, who is implicated in several crimes against the Syrian people during the era of the former regime, in the presence of representatives from national and international human rights organizations.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the session is chaired by Judge Fakhr al-Din Mustafa al-Aryan, and includes hearing testimony from public witnesses, and presenting documents, photographs, and video recordings.

Wassim al-Assad, nicknamed the 'Drug Baron', is considered one of the most dangerous drug traffickers in Syria and a prominent leader of what was known as the 'Shabiha', whom most Syrians, especially residents of the coastal areas from which he hails and where his criminal activity is concentrated, unanimously reject.

0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 90%

Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts

00:00

00:00

00:00

The court held its first trial session on June 24, where Judge al-Aryan read the indictment, which included directing and forming irregular armed groups on assignment from Brigadier General Ghiyath Dala, a brigade commander in the Fourth Division of the ousted regime led by Maher al-Assad, since early 2011, and their participation in military operations targeting civilian areas in Eastern Ghouta, particularly the town of Al-Maliha, which resulted in the deaths of a large number of civilians.

The indictment also included his responsibility for a killing incident in the city of Jaramana, and his involvement in massacres that occurred during those operations, in addition to public incitement to violence, involvement in drug smuggling and trafficking, and committing crimes of robbery and extortion.

Infographic about the history of the accused Wassim al-Assad from the website of Al-Souriya channel.

During the first session, the judge indicated that these acts constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, in addition to violating the provisions of the Syrian Penal Code.

The Fourth Criminal Court held its fifth session yesterday to consider the case against Atef Najib, accused of committing crimes against the Syrian people during the era of the former regime.

As part of achieving transitional justice, the Syrian judiciary continues to conduct trials against accused individuals for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Syrian people during the era of the former regime, which began on April 26 with the trial of Atef Najib, as part of a process aimed at revealing the truth, achieving justice for victims, and holding those involved accountable in accordance with judicial procedures.

Arrest of former official responsible for sarin gas warehouses

In addition, the Syrian Ministry of Interior announced on Wednesday the arrest of a former official responsible for sarin gas warehouses and chemical manufacturing during the era of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted a source in the Ministry of Interior as saying that 'a former official responsible for sarin gas warehouses and chemical manufacturing during the era of the ousted regime was arrested in Latakia.'

Sarin gas has been closely linked to the Syrian crisis through its use in large-scale chemical attacks during the civil war, most notably the Eastern Ghouta massacre in the Damascus countryside on August 21, 2013, which killed hundreds of civilians.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons documented sarin remnants at various sites in Syria, and international investigation committees confirmed the responsibility of the former Syrian regime forces for these attacks.