Fugitive’s wife leaves Romania

The wife of fugitive Romanian-Syrian businessman Omar Hayssam, who fled Romania while facing terrorism charges last year, left Romania for Beirut on Sunday night. Adela Omar left the country alone by taking a plane from the Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest. Police quoted by the Realitatea TV news channel said they could not prevent her departure as it was perfectly legal.

Adela Omar had tried to leave Romania accompanied by her children twice before but was stopped at customs because of inappropriate travel documents. She now managed to do it, but alone.

Police said she was carrying a lot of medication pills, apparently because Omar Hayssam is about to undergo surgery in Beirut. She is expected to return to Romania on February 24.

Omar Hayssam faces trial on several economic charges but also for acts of terrorism, related to the kidnapping of three Romanian journalists in Iraq in 2005. He has been placed under an international wanted list after he fled Romania in the first half of 2006.