Malacañang on Thursday, May 10, confirmed that Philippine and Kuwaiti authorities will attend the trial of the Lebanese employer of slain overseas Filipina worker (OFW) Joanna Demafelis whose body was found stuffed inside a freezer in Kuwait.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said both Philippine and Kuwaiti authorities will be present during the trial of Nader Essam Assaf, OFW Demafelis’ Lebanese employer and primary suspect in the crime.
“They will not extradite him to Saudi Arabia but there will be a trial in Lebanon and it would be participated in by Kuwait authorities, as well as Philippine authorities,” Roque said.
“Talagang tututukan po ng both Kuwait and Philippine authorities yung kaso ni Demafelis,” he added.
In February, the body of Demafelis was found inside a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait.
Assaf and his Syrian wife were declared as the primary suspects in the crime. They were apprehended in Damascus following Interpol’s manhunt.
Assaf was brought back to Lebanon while his Syrian wife stayed in Damascus.
Last month, a Kuwaiti court sentenced the couple to death by hanging for the murder of the Filipina worker.
