Custodial dad, step sentenced to 15 years in prison for child's torture murder; mom was refused visitation (Saudi Arabia)

Dad is identified as OMAR JABAWI.

https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/15-years-father-wife-beating-child-death-064135007.html

15 years for father and wife for beating child to death

Saudi Gazette – 14 hours ago

The General Court has sentenced a father and his second wife each to 15 years in prison and 1,500 lashes for abusing a child so much that he died, Al-Hayat reported.

A medical report showed the child died as a result of torture all over his body around two years ago.

The defendants told the court the child tripped and fell several times and tried to hang himself with a piece of cloth to imitate some cartoons he had seen on television.

They said they had to tie him up every night on the recommendation of a well-known sheikh because the child kept opening their apartment door to strangers at night.

Omar Jabawi and Rola Abu Shalhoob were arrested over two years ago in Riyadh following the medical report that put the causes of the child's death to bruises and contusions in the neck, face, chest, left shoulder, thighs, knees and left cheek.

The doctor said some of the injuries the child sustained were a few days old while some were older.

The main causes of his death were severe head traumas and contusions. Another report by the hospital proved the child sustained all these injuries because of torture.

Neighbors testified before the court that they heard the child crying many nights every night after 10 p.m.

The judge did not hand down a death sentence because there were insufficient conditions for such a verdict.

The child's biological mother, who was divorced and is Syrian, said her child moved in with his father seven months before his death and that she only saw him twice although she did not have a custody child certificate. "My ex-husband and his second wife tortured my child and didn't let me see him," she said.

Fahd Al-Rokban, who taught the child at elementary school, said Abdullah's performance deteriorated after he moved with his father.

When asked why the school failed to spot the torture marks on Abdullah's body, he said most student counselors at schools are engaged in administrative work and do not perform any counseling duties.