Ethiopian consulate in Lebanon sues Ali Mahfouz over suicide

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The Ethiopian consulate in Lebanon has filed a lawsuit against Ali Mahfouz, the man who was caught on tape beating domestic worker Alem Dechasa outside her consulate.

Dechasa committed suicide Wednesday. Asaminew Debelie Bonssa, Ethiopia’s consul general in Lebanon, told The Daily Star Thursday that “we have already sued him [Ali Mahfouz].” He declined to give the details of the lawsuit, saying it was “a legal issue that cannot be made public,” adding that the suit was in process before the consulate was aware of Dechasa’s death but that with this development “everyone is expecting something out of this.”

In a video released by LBCI last week, Dechasa, 33, was seen moaning as a man, later identified as Mahfouz, beat and tried to force her into a car outside the Ethiopian consulate, aided by another man.

Security and judicial sources told The Daily Star that Mahfouz was briefly arrested last week, but was released after leaving his address with the magistrate. They were not able to confirm the consulate’s lawsuit.

Bonssa said that he has not received any police or medical report regarding Dechasa’s death, but said “we need the whole autopsy as [is] internationally acceptable,” adding that this was necessary especially “when somebody dies … under the care of the hospital it is really unexpected.”

Dechasa was taken to the Psychiatrique de la Croix Hospital, known as Deir al-Salib, after the incident around three weeks ago. She died in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Bonssa said that doctors told him she hanged herself using her bed sheets.

Mahfouz told LBC that Dechasa had attempted suicide three times.

The Daily Star

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15 responses to “Ethiopian consulate in Lebanon sues Ali Mahfouz over suicide”

  1. They should be looking into why he didnt want her contacting her embassy and why she died days before she was supposed to go back home. Since she wanted to go home it seems like murder if you ask me.
    Normally women like this may be forced into prostitution or other illegal activities.

  2. They should be looking into why he didnt want her contacting her embassy and why she died days before she was supposed to go back home. Since she wanted to go home it seems like murder if you ask me.
    Normally women like this may be forced into prostitution or other illegal activities.

  3. and they should also be named in the law suit for negligence on their part, they should have intervened when the girl was a live.

  4. and they should also be named in the law suit for negligence on their part, they should have intervened when the girl was a live.

    1. Prophettttt Avatar
      Prophettttt

      No one should expect any justice to be served in the land of injustice.

  5. Tarik Zebib Avatar
    Tarik Zebib

    Don’t judge before you’ve got the whole story straight. I am not defending anyone or taking sides, but you really think they would do this in public infront of everyone just like that? Maybe she didn’t want to leave lebanon cause of something waiting for her in her country. Maybe he was abusing her or forcing into illegal activities. Bottom line is: don’t judge till we know what’s really happened.

  6. Don’t judge before you’ve got the whole story straight. I am not defending anyone or taking sides, but you really think they would do this in public infront of everyone just like that? Maybe she didn’t want to leave lebanon cause of something waiting for her in her country. Maybe he was abusing her or forcing into illegal activities. Bottom line is: don’t judge till we know what’s really happened.

  7. dave smith Avatar
    dave smith

    Who know if the Hospital helped Ali Mahfouz to kill Alem Dechasa. He paid or gave money or went to the hospital to kill Alem. I don’t believe any report comes from this hospital! Ali Mahfouz did in public horrific, barbaric things on Alem.

    I am suspecting he may rapped or did sexual and physical violence against her, to cover up his crime he might killed her with the help of the hospital employees.

  8. dave smith Avatar
    dave smith

    Who know if the Hospital helped Ali Mahfouz to kill Alem Dechasa. He paid gave money or went to the hospital to kill the Alem. I don’t believe any report comes from this hospital!

  9.  

    we all die one day, none of us permanently inherit the
    earth, but this is cruel to beat her and kill her finally … better she died
    before all these sufferings !!  If it was true she killed herself, they
    have to send her body to Ethiopia, but to cover their crime they just announce
    her death and throw her some were. God see and judge!!! 

  10.  

    we all die one day, none of us permanently inherit the
    earth, but this is cruel to beat her and kill her finally … better she died
    before all these sufferings !!  If it was true she killed herself, they
    have to send her body to Ethiopia, but to cover their crime they just announce
    her death and throw her some were. God see and judge!!! 

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