Military Tribunal starts trialing MP Michel Samaha

The Military Tribunal headed by Brigadier General Khalil Ibrahim started on Wednesday the trial of MP Michel Samaha and suspects Ali Mamlouk and a Syrian army officer identified as Brig. Gen. Adnan in absentia.

The trial session is expected to be short pending the notifications of fugitives.

Former Minister Michel Samaha, was arrested on Thursday 9th of August by the Internal Security Forces’ Information Branch on suspicion of involvement in a plot to carry out terrorist attacks in Lebanon in collaboration with Syria.

He was charged by the government’s deputy commissioner at the Military Tribunal on Aug. 11, alongside Syrian National Security Bureau head Ali Mamlouk and a Syrian army officer identified as Brig. Gen. Adnan with plotting to assassinate political and religious figures in Lebanon and carrying out terrorist attacks.

The three men were accused of planning to incite sectarian clashes through terrorist attacks in North Lebanon during the Eid using explosives that Samaha allegedly transported to Lebanon and stored after taking possession of them from Mamlouk and Adnan.

An indictment was issued by Lebanon's Military Prosecutor Riad Abou Ghaida on Wednesday Feb. 20 2013, requesting a death sentence for Samaha and Mamlouk.