The director of the 'Accountability and Accounting Department' of the 'National Transitional Justice Authority' in Syria, lawyer Radif Mustafa, said that the sentencing session for Wassim al-Assad, accused of involvement in a number of crimes against the Syrian people, will be on July 29 of this month, in the first case within the transitional justice track that has become ready for judgment.

The Fourth Criminal Court, specialized in transitional justice in Syria, decided at the end of the third session of Wassim al-Assad's trial, held on Wednesday, to submit the verification documents of the defendant's trial to the session on July 29 of this month.

In a press statement a copy of which reached Asharq Al-Awsat, Radif Mustafa said that the Fourth Criminal Court witnessed an important stage in the trial of Wassim al-Assad, as 'proceedings moved to the pleadings stage,' explaining that 'the prosecution presented its legal argument based on the evidence, statements, and testimonies contained in the case file, while the defense presented its argument, and the defendant made his final statements before the court.'

According to Radif Mustafa's statement at this stage of the trial, he affirmed that 'transitional justice in Syria is practiced according to judicial procedures that guarantee the rights of all parties, and is based on evidence and legal guarantees, which enhances confidence in the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary... and the state's commitment to the principle of no impunity, and that serious crimes are heard before the competent judiciary according to legal procedures, away from any other considerations, and in a way that ensures justice and fairness for victims.'

The third session of Wassim al-Assad's trial, presided over by Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan and attended by representatives of national and international human rights organizations, included continuing to hear the testimonies of public witnesses, in accordance with legal procedures.

The court charges Wassim al-Assad with several counts; most notably: managing and forming irregular armed groups under the mandate of Brigadier General Ghayath Dalla, who since early 2011 was commander of one of the brigades of the Fourth Division led by Maher al-Assad, which was part of the former regime... and participating in military operations targeting civilian areas in Eastern Ghouta, especially the town of Al-Maliha, which resulted in the deaths of a large number of civilians.