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A Syrian criminal court in Damascus has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad and ex-security chief Atef Najib to death, convicting them of premeditated murder and torture. The ruling follows the fall of Assad's government and relates to the crackdown on protesters in Deraa.
A Moroccan court sentenced 29 people, including senior politicians and a sports club president, to up to 12 years in prison for drug trafficking and corruption. The case, linked to a Malian drug lord, is one of the country's largest anti-corruption efforts.
Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, step-son of Crown Prince Haakon, was sentenced to four years in prison for rape, domestic violence, and drug offenses. The seven-week trial revealed his troubled life, including addiction and explicit evidence, while the royal family emphasized he is not a member of the royal household.
US prosecutors allege Jonathan Rinderknecht intentionally started the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 and devastated coastal areas north of Los Angeles. His trial began October 9 in federal court in Los Angeles.
Former Syrian Brigadier General Khaled al-Halabi pleaded not guilty in an Austrian court on April 14 to charges of torture, sexual coercion, and grievous bodily harm linked to the abuse of detainees in Raqqa between 2011 and 2013. The trial of al-Halabi and co-defendant Police Lieutenant Colonel Musab Abu Rukba is expected to run until June 30, with alleged victims testifying from Syria and Europe.
Kenneth Law, 60, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of counseling or aiding suicide after sending poison and instructions to more than 100 people worldwide. The case, involving victims in multiple countries including the UK and US, highlights the difficulty of policing online suicide forums. Sentencing is set for September.
Atef Najib, the cousin of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been charged with murder, torture, and responsibility for massacres in a second hearing in Damascus. The trial is the first effort to bring Assad-era officials to justice in Syria. Najib's arrest in January 2025 was a major breakthrough in the post-war transitional justice process.
A South Korean appeals court on April 17 reduced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's sentence from 23 years to 15 years for insurrection tied to ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol's brief martial law decree in December 2024. The court cited Han's long public service and lack of evidence for active insurrection participation, though it found he abandoned his responsibilities by siding with the rebellion. Han, who has denied most charges, previously served as acting president before his own impeachment was overturned.
