MANILA (UPDATE)—The former employer of a Filipina, whose remains were found in a freezer in Kuwait, has been convicted of murder, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.
The verdict against Mouna Ali Hassoun was handed down in Syria, where she had been in custody since early last year. Her Lebanese husband, Nader Essam Assaf, is facing a murder charge in Lebanon, the DFA said.
Joanna Demafelis left Iloilo for Kuwait is 2014 to work as a domestic helper. She went missing in 2016 and the discovery of her remains led to a ban on the deployment of Filipinos to the Gulf state.
"DFA will continue to provide legal assistance to the family until justice is served," the foreign affairs department said in a tweet.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. retweeted the DFA's post, adding "Yup, they're gonna get it."
Demafelis' brother, Joejet, welcomed the Syrian court's decision.
"Happy ako na unti-unti nang umuusad ang case niya," he told ABS-CBN News.
(I'm happy that her case is making progress.)
Joejet wants the couple to be sentenced to death by hanging.
"Sana matupad at maipakita sa amin ng tama kung ano ang ginawa nila sa kapatid ko," he said.
(I hope they will get what they deserve after what they did to my sister.) - with a report from Jennifer Garcia, ABS-CBN News