Syrian official who oversaw prisons with widespread allegations of abuse arrested by US officials

LOS ANGELES — A former Syrian soldier who oversaw prisons dogged by allegations of abuse has been arrested in Los Angeles.

Samir Ousman al-Sheikh, 72, was arrested last week at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of immigration fraud. According to court documents, he denied in his application for a U.S. visa that he ever ordered political assassinations or abuses in Syria.

Al-Sheikh, a Los Angeles resident since 2020, is accused of naturalization fraud in his bid to apply for U.S. citizenship, according to a criminal complaint filed July 9. Al-Sheikh, who was in charge of Syria’s notorious Adra prison, “provided materially false information on his visa application by falsely stating that he had not committed, ordered, incited, aided, or otherwise participated in extrajudicial killings, political assassinations, or other violent acts,” the complaint said.

According to court documents, investigators were considering filing additional charges.