Victim Advocacy Group Wants Law Changed
Haffar is charged with first degree murder in the fatal beating of University of Illinois at Chicago student Tombol Malik.
His father and sister reportedly made a similar appearance last week but refused to testify invoking the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. It’s unclear whether they testified yesterday.
Prosecutors and lawyers refused to comment, citing grand jury rules about secrecy.
The grand jury reports added to growing speculation that family members may face criminal charges in Haffar’s disappearance despite a state law that exempts parents, siblings and spouses from prosecution for concealing or aiding fugitives.
The Cook County State's Attorney's Office declined to comment when asked whether criminal charges were being considered against Haffar’s father and sister. Authorities feared Haffar jumped bail and fled overseas where he has family. Crime victim advocates urged state legislators to change the law shielding family from criminal prosecution for helping a fugitive flee. “We should have laws that make sense,” said Gail Leland, Director of the National Coalition of Homicide Survivors. “A law should be in place that says anybody who helps someone flee and getaway there should be some sort of sanction or penalty.”
Leland said family members are usually the MOST likely to conceal or aid a fugitive relative and can’t understand why the law here protects them. She said laws like this hurt victims and their survivors.
“They’re victimized again by the state and the system that should be there to protect them,” Leland said. “We have to continue to be vigilant about our laws. There are so many that are on the books that need to be updated and unfortunately we usually don’t find out about them until something terrible has happened.”
Haffar’s sister and father said previously they had no knowledge of his whereabouts. However, after Haffar’s no-show in court, police searched the family’s Burr Ridge home where they found packed luggage. Investigators reportedly were checking whether airline tickets had been delivered to the Haffar residence and examined phone records in search for clues to his whereabouts.
A judge issued an arrest warrant for Haffar, 21, after he failed to show up in court for a preliminary hearing. He had been free on $900,000 bond and was to appear with co-defendant Mantas Matulis, 20, Clarendon Hills, for a preliminary hearing. Both men are charged with first degree murder and aggravated battery in the July 9 fatal beating of Tombol Malik, 23, a University of Illinois at Chicago student. Matulis remained jailed after a judge revoked his bond earlier this week.
Authorities fear Haffar may have fled to the middle east. His mother lives in Syria and his brother is believed to be living in Egypt. He was not required to surrender his U-S Passport to the court and prosecutors typically do not ask judges to seize the passports of U-S citizens even when murder charges are involved.
WBBM Chicago
His father and sister reportedly made a similar appearance last week but refused to testify invoking the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. It’s unclear whether they testified yesterday.
Prosecutors and lawyers refused to comment, citing grand jury rules about secrecy.
The grand jury reports added to growing speculation that family members may face criminal charges in Haffar’s disappearance despite a state law that exempts parents, siblings and spouses from prosecution for concealing or aiding fugitives.
The Cook County State's Attorney's Office declined to comment when asked whether criminal charges were being considered against Haffar’s father and sister. Authorities feared Haffar jumped bail and fled overseas where he has family. Crime victim advocates urged state legislators to change the law shielding family from criminal prosecution for helping a fugitive flee. “We should have laws that make sense,” said Gail Leland, Director of the National Coalition of Homicide Survivors. “A law should be in place that says anybody who helps someone flee and getaway there should be some sort of sanction or penalty.”
Leland said family members are usually the MOST likely to conceal or aid a fugitive relative and can’t understand why the law here protects them. She said laws like this hurt victims and their survivors.
“They’re victimized again by the state and the system that should be there to protect them,” Leland said. “We have to continue to be vigilant about our laws. There are so many that are on the books that need to be updated and unfortunately we usually don’t find out about them until something terrible has happened.”
Haffar’s sister and father said previously they had no knowledge of his whereabouts. However, after Haffar’s no-show in court, police searched the family’s Burr Ridge home where they found packed luggage. Investigators reportedly were checking whether airline tickets had been delivered to the Haffar residence and examined phone records in search for clues to his whereabouts.
A judge issued an arrest warrant for Haffar, 21, after he failed to show up in court for a preliminary hearing. He had been free on $900,000 bond and was to appear with co-defendant Mantas Matulis, 20, Clarendon Hills, for a preliminary hearing. Both men are charged with first degree murder and aggravated battery in the July 9 fatal beating of Tombol Malik, 23, a University of Illinois at Chicago student. Matulis remained jailed after a judge revoked his bond earlier this week.
Authorities fear Haffar may have fled to the middle east. His mother lives in Syria and his brother is believed to be living in Egypt. He was not required to surrender his U-S Passport to the court and prosecutors typically do not ask judges to seize the passports of U-S citizens even when murder charges are involved.
WBBM Chicago
posted by JN80 at 6:00 PM
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