Court sentences refugee who attacked wife to prison
Pärnu County Court's Haapsalu Courthouse sentenced Syrian refugee Samer Khtab, 27, to three years in prison for attacking his wife and threatening to set her on fire.
The court also handed down a conditional sentence of an additional two years with three years of probation and issued a three-year restraining order on him prohibiting contact with his wife.
The Western District Prosecutor's Office charged Khtabi with physical abuse, rape and threatening to kill his wife.
The prosecutor found during litigation that Khtab should be sentenced to three year and six months in prison, plus a three-year restraining order preventing contact with his wife.
The defendant did not plead guilty to any charges during the trial, which began last week.
Khtab's criminal case was initially to be settled with a plea deal, however the State Prosecutor withdrew from the deal and so the case was heard under general procedure in the court.
On Nov. 12, in the course of a fight, Khtab taped together his wife's hands and hit her. He thereafter poured a flammable liquid on her and threatened to set her on fire. The woman notified the family's support person, who in turn notified the police about the incident.
At the request of the State Prosecutor and with the permission of the court, the defendant was held in custody during the criminal investigation subsequently launched.
Editor: Aili Vahtla