Military court overrules request to release former Minister Michel Samaha

   
The permanent military court headed by Brigadier General Khalil Ibrahim overruled on Tuesday a request presented by the defense attorney of former Minister Michel Samaha, Sakher al-Hashem, demanding the release of his client who was arrested on charges of transporting weapons and explosive devices from Syria to Lebanon.  

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 11th of August 2012, 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.