Muaz Haffar Still A Fugitive

Haffar's attorney, Steve Saltzman, appeared in court Wednesday to tell [Judge Stanley] Sacks he did not know of his client's whereabouts. Haffar had been freed on a $900,000 bond.

"Maybe we'll see you again sometime then," Sacks said.

NBC 5

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

Poll: Where Is Muaz Haffar?

Where Is Muaz Haffar?
	Egypt
	Turkey
	Lebanon
	Syria
	Other

Lawsuit Filed in Beating Death

Corboy & Demetrio has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family of a UIC college student who was beaten to death in the early morning hours of July 9, 2005.

Tombol Malik, age 23, was allegedly beaten to death by Muaz Haffar, age 21, 8250 Lake Ridge Drive, Burr Ridge, and Mantas Matulis, age 20, of unincorporated Willowbrook, outside a party in the 1500 block of South Sangamon Street, Chicago. Haffar and Matulis have been charged with first degree murder and aggravated battery. Haffar, the son of a doctor, has posted bail and has been released from custody. Matulis remains in custody.

Malik died from horrific injuries he sustained while beaten over the head and face repeatedly with a bicycle lock. His face was disfigured beyond recognition.

Partner Shawn Kasserman of Corboy & Demetrio said:

Tombol was a peaceful and kind human being--a gentle and intelligent man--who was killed for no reason by unimaginable brutality. The lawsuit seeks compensation from Haffar and Matulis, but most importantly, it serves as an opportunity to secure justice and hold the responsible parties accountable. We will use every means available to make sure the defendants pay for the damage they have inflicted on this family.

Tombol Malik is survived by Karen Brobst, his mother; Sharafuddin Malik, his father; Samil Malik and Sati Malik, his brothers; and Shiera Malik, his sister.

Corboy & Demetrio

Photoshop Muaz Haffar

Muaz Haffar has had facial surgery. Please help find him by submitting photoshopped pictures of him with different facial features, hair, facial hair, etc.

Please send photos to: muazhaffarinfo@gmail.com

Additional photos can be found here

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Muaz Haffar's Family Pleads The 5th

"The father and sister of a fugitive wanted in connection with the University of Illinois at Chicago bicycle lock slaying appeared before a Cook County grand jury Wednesday, but both refused to testify, a source said. In choosing not to testify, the pair invoked the Fifth Amendment's protection against self-incrimination, the source said."

Chicago Suntimes

Muaz Haffar's Family Subpoenaed

"A court order now makes the search for fugitive murder suspect Muaz Haffar a family matter as family members are subpoenaed. "

"We’ve specifically asked for e-mails of the family members as well as Muaz Haffar, any and all cell phone records, land-based records, any medical records they may have,” said Malik family attorney Shawn Kasserman."

“The Haffar family is not going to be able to disregard the laws of the state of Illinois forever,” Kasserman said.

"Haffar’s family is from Syria. "

'Kasserman says he’s reached out to Syrian, Lebanese and Turkish authorities for help in locating the suspect. He says authorities in those countries have been cooperative. "

CBS 2 Chicago


Family Told To Come Clean

The subpoena also requires Haffar’s family to answer questions under oath.

"We want them to testify ... about where their son is," Rasserman said.

Rasserman said he believes the Haffar family knows Muaz Haffar’s whereabouts. According to Illinois law, a person cannot be charged with aiding and abetting a fugitive if that person is a relative of the fugitive, Rasserman said.

"I can’t imagine with the amount of money Dr. Haffar is responsible for, and the closeness of the family, that they don’t know where he is," Rasserman said.

"The Haffar family isn’t going to be able to ignore the laws of Illinois forever.

Rasserman said officials in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, and Egypt have been contacted about the case because Haffar’s family is from Syria.

"Whether he’s in Burr Ridge or Syria, he’s going to be brought in," Rasserman said.

Chicago Journal

Police Search Hotel For Murder Suspect Muaz Haffar

"Police in Burr Ridge surrounded a hotel on a tip that Muaz Haffar, a murder suspect who skipped out on bail, might have been holed up inside."

NBC 5 Chicago

"Police surrounded a southwest suburban hotel for several hours this afternoon after receiving a tip that a fugitive murder suspect was inside, but it turns out they were staking out an innocent man."

CBS 2 Chicago

New Details Of Murder

On Monday, Cook County Assistant State's Atty. Michael Falagario offered what he said were new and "quite disturbing" details, saying Malik had been left with six skull fractures, 30 external injuries and 11 internal injuries

Falagario also handed the judge photos of Malik before and after the beating, saying they "speak for themselves."

Chicago Tribune