Syria arrests Assad-era officer who fled Austria

Abu Rukba had been convicted by a Vienna court last month of bodily harm, aggravated coercion and sexual assault against people under arrest.

DAMASCUS, Aug 19 - Syrian security forces have arrested a former Assad-era security officer who fled Austria after being sentenced to eight years in prison for abusing detainees and returned to his hometown in southern Syria, state news agency SANA said on Tuesday night.