Co-accused in death of Filipina in Kuwait found guilty by Syrian court

September 9, 2019

A Syrian woman has been found guilty of murdering a Filipina maid in Kuwait by the Syrian District Criminal Court, the Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA) said Monday.

The DFA, though the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs, received reports  Mouna Ali Hassoun is expected to be meted with a prison sentence ranging from eight to 15 years.

The body of the Filipina maid, Joanna Demafelis, was found frozen inside of her employer in Kuwait 2018.

Ali Hssoun's Lebanese husband, Nader Essam Assaf, is also charged with murder in Lebanon, where his trial is still going on.

The couple was earlier tried in absentia, found guilty of murder and meted the death penalty in Kuwait.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola of the Migrant Workers Affairs said  DFA will continue to provide legal assistance to the family until justice is served. DMS