Hayssam je proglašen krivim kao osnovni planer otmice trojice rumunskih novinara u Iraku 2005. godine i 2007. je u odsustvu osuđen na 20 godina zatvora.
Hayssam was found guilty of masterminding the kidnapping of three Romanian journalists in Iraq in 2005, and sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison in 2007.