-
Through a Suspicious Witness.. Regime Intelligence Attempts to Save Doctor Accused of Crimes Against Humanity
-
The German judiciary's method in dismantling suspicious narratives highlights the difficulty of penetrating European justice despite Syrian intelligence agencies' attempts
Syrian intelligence fingerprints were clearly visible during the trial of Dr. Alaa (M) at the Frankfurt Regional Court, through a suspicious witness who raised judges' doubts about his background and testimony contradictions.
Alaa (M), a Syrian doctor who worked in Syrian military hospitals, is currently being tried before the German Frankfurt court on charges of crimes against humanity. Witness testimonies indicate that the accused had special authorization to enter the detainees' section, a privilege not available to civilian doctors.
One witness, a surgeon, confirmed that the accused had ties to the Syrian regime and frequently visited the restricted area in the military hospital accompanied by military doctors. The trial of Dr. Alaa has sparked widespread surprise as he was a doctor who was supposed to alleviate patients' pain, not participate in their torture, which has contributed to prolonging the trial.
The Syrian regime attempted to influence trial proceedings by sending suspicious witnesses to defend the accused, indicating the importance of his position and role in the repression system. The trial relies on multiple pieces of evidence and testimonies, including those featured in an Al Jazeera documentary, where the first witness confirmed the authenticity of what was shown about the accused due to his relationship with the regime.
According to observers, judges were surprised how the second witness transformed from a household appliance repairman to a supervisor of a VIP escort team at Damascus International Airport, a sensitive position typically associated with security agencies.
The witness's contradictions revealed an intelligence pattern in the answers, as he struggled to remember his exact age while recalling precise details about his meetings with the accused, leading the court president to question the authenticity of his identity and personal information.
Attempts at deception became apparent when the witness denied knowing about the accused's presence in the church before a traffic accident, then later confirming it when the defense attorney repeated the question, prompting the judge to point out his changing answers to benefit the accused.
The court president directly confronted the witness with suspicions of working for regime intelligence, noting that his coming to Germany might be linked to an intelligence mission, especially with his claim that his repeated meetings with the accused were merely for "fun and entertainment."
The suspicious agent's testimony coincided with that of another Syrian doctor who appeared confused and contradictory in his statements about the accused's relationship with the detainees' section in the military hospital, forcing the court to suspend his interrogation.
These obvious attempts to influence the course of justice reveal the Syrian regime's concern about the trial's implications, which could open the door to broader judicial pursuits of those involved in crimes against humanity.
The German judiciary continues to unravel the case's threads despite attempts at obscuration and misdirection, insisting on uncovering the truth about systematic torture crimes committed in Syrian military hospitals.
Levant-Follow up
