Syria arrests three over alleged abuses in military hospitals
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syria’s Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday the arrest of three former officials accused of committing serious violations and abuses inside military hospitals during the rule of the former Syrian government.
The Internal Security Forces said in a statement that those arrested were Brig. Gen. Dr. Ali Muhammad Assi, the former director of Homs Military Hospital; Maher Abdo Qanab, a former member of the military police at Tishreen Military Hospital; and Muhammad Ali Mansour, who previously served in Military Intelligence and the 18th Division before being transferred to Homs Military Hospital.
According to the statement, investigations supported by evidence, testimonies and video footage showed the detainees were involved in serious violations against detainees and patients inside military hospitals, including the systematic torture of prisoners, particularly those transferred from Sednaya Prison.
The ministry added that Muhammad Ali Mansour admitted during questioning to participating in the suppression of peaceful protesters and to involvement in the arrest and enforced disappearance of several young men at the Bab al-Dreib checkpoint in Homs in 2014 before his transfer to Homs Military Hospital, where he allegedly took part in the torture of detainees and patients.
Authorities said investigations are continuing to document the crimes attributed to the suspects, identify all those involved, and prepare the cases for referral to the competent judiciary.