Imprisonment for killer husband of Rokaya, protracted process in Rula’s file and new “honor crime” in Baalbaq

The Criminal Court of Mount Lebanon, headed by Judge Henri Khury, issued on Tuesday its verdict in the case of killer of wife Roqaya Monzer (http://bit.ly/2hnQx5Q) punishing him with 22 years of hard labor, and the payment of victim’s restitution. The Judge reportedly based his sentence, in absentia, on Article 547 of the Penal Code related to premeditated murder (20 years of hard labor) and Article 72 related to Arms Acquisition (2 years in prison), against Munzer who did not show up for the hearing. The judge demanded the execution of the arrest warrant and the payment of LBP 180 million in restitution to the victim’s family. It should be noted, that the above case has seen repeated attempts over 2 and a half years to negate the crime, starting with the forensic doctor’s report which clearly overlooked the bruises on all the victim’s body, up to the release on bail of the culprit following his indictment in June, 2015 and his disappearance after that. Meanwhile, the case of Rula Yaacub (http://bit.ly/2hnXJiz) is advancing at a suspiciously slow pace, as per the mother of the victim. To recall, an accusatory decision was issued last May by the accusatory body in the North indicting Yaacoub’s husband, in line with Article 550 of the Penal Code, and referring him to the Criminal Court of North Lebanon for trial. Moreover, an arrest warrant was issued against the perpetrator who filed for overruling the verdict at the Criminal Court of Cassation. On the other hand, news were reported of the death of young woman, Hiba T, 28 years, who was shot by her brother in Duros, Baalbak, in what appears to be a cos-called “honor crime”. (As Safir, Al Akhbar, Al Mustaqbal, December 15, 2016)