Syrian security forces arrest Assad regime officer convicted in Austria
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – Syrian security forces on Saturday announced the arrest of former al-Assad regime Lieutenant Colonel Musab Abu Rakba in Daraa Governorate, southern Syria.
The Security Forces in Daraa said Abu Rakba had previously served as a lieutenant colonel in the Political Security branch in Raqqa Governorate, northern Syria, under the al-Assad regime.
On Friday, four sources and messages reviewed by Reuters said a former Syrian security officer who had been sentenced to prison in Austria for abusing detainees under the al-Assad regime left Austria while appealing his sentence and returned to Syria earlier this month.
In July, a Vienna court sentenced Abu Rakba to eight years in prison after convicting him on charges including physical abuse, aggravated coercion and sexual assault against detained opposition members during the rule of Bashar al-Assad, according to Reuters.
The former officer had served as head of the Criminal Investigation Department at Raqqa Governorate Police more than a decade ago, Reuters reported.