Syrian internal security forces have arrested Lieutenant Colonel Musab Abu Rukba in the southern town of Nawa after he fled Austria following a prison sentence.
The former security official under former President Bashar al-Assad was detained in Daraa province in cooperation with Syria's counter-terrorism service, official state news agency SANA reported on Tuesday night.
SANA reported on Wednesday that Abu Rukba entered Syrian territory illegally after leaving Austria. Security forces located him in Nawa, his hometown in southern Syria, and transferred him to competent authorities to complete legal procedures and face prosecution.
Conviction in Vienna Court
A court in the Austrian capital of Vienna convicted Abu Rukba in July, sentencing him to eight years in prison. The court found him guilty of causing bodily harm, coercion, and sexual assault against imprisoned political opponents of former President Assad.
Abu Rukba had declared his innocence during his trial in Austria. Before fleeing the country, he had spent more than a decade as the head of the police criminal investigation department in Raqqa, a major city in northern Syria.
Reuters reported on Friday that Abu Rukba departed Austria after lodging an appeal against his conviction. He arrived in Nawa in early July, where his family hosted a celebration to mark his return.
Flight Risk and Asylum Status
A spokesperson for the Vienna court told Reuters that officials had not deemed Abu Rukba a flight risk prior to his trial. He had resided in Austria since 2014, where he submitted asylum applications for himself and his family members.
Judicial authorities did not hold Abu Rukba in custody or subject him to restrictive travel conditions while trial proceedings took place. The spokesperson said his exit from Austria did not breach any national laws or court orders because his appeal was pending.
Unclear Charges and Extradition
Syrian officials have not disclosed what specific charges Abu Rukba will face under Syrian jurisdiction. It remains unknown whether Austrian authorities have issued a formal request for his arrest or extradition.
SANA is Syria's official state news agency, which broadcasts government announcements and security reports. Daraa province, where Nawa is situated, lies in southern Syria, while Raqqa sits along the Euphrates River in the north of the country.
