Judge Saqr refers Samaha indictment to Military Court

The Government Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr appealed two articles in the indictment issued by the First Military Investigation Judge Riad Abou Ghaida against former Minister Michel Samaha and Maj. Gen. Ali  Mamlouk.                  

Article 274/penalties which refrains trial of Samaha, for contacting foreigners in order to carry out terrorist activities, and article 308/penalties which refrains the trial of Mamlouk for raising confessional riots were found to be contrary to Judge Saqr's findings. The file will be referred to the Penal Cassation Court which will decide on these  points, and then returned to the Permanent Military Court to commence trials.

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.