On Thursday, September 14, a juvenile court in Kuwait found 17-year-old Turki Ayed Al-Azmi guilty of the murder of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jullebee Ranara. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed the ruling through the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait.
Ranara was mercilessly killed in January of this year, a crime committed by Al-Azmi, the son of her employer. Following the tragic incident, her body was found abandoned in a desert area.
The court’s decision was to sentence Al-Azmi to a cumulative 16 years in prison, broken down into 15 years for the act of murder and an additional one year for driving without a license.
The DFA noted that the leniency in the sentencing was attributed to Al-Azmi’s minor status, providing him the opportunity to appeal the judgment within a 30-day window to the Court of First Instance.
As the tragic event comes to a close through the legal channels, Ranara’s family expressed their gratitude towards the government for their assistance throughout this difficult period.
In a statement, the DFA said, “The Philippine Government is similarly appreciative of the efforts undertaken by the Kuwaiti authorities to effect a speedy resolution of the case, in the pursuit of justice for our slain kababayan.”