On the Conviction of Co-Accused in Death of Filipina in Kuwait

09 September 2019 — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), though the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs, received reports that one of the co-accused in the murder of a Filipina in Kuwait has been found guilty of murder charges. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola reported that the Syrian District Criminal Court found Syrian Mouna Ali Hassoun, co-accused in the Joanna Demafelis case, guilty of murder, and is expected to be meted with a prison sentence ranging from eight to 15 years. Her Lebanese husband, Nader Essam Assaf, is also charged with murder in Lebanon, where his trial is still ongoing. The couple was earlier tried in absentia, found guilty of murder and meted the death penalty in Kuwait. Ms. Demafelis was found frozen inside her employer's house in Kuwait in Feb 2018. Undersecretary Arriola said that the DFA will continue to provide legal assistance to the family until justice is served. END