Penal Cassation Court receives Samaha-Mamlouk file

                   
The Penal Cassation Court presided by Judge Joseph Samaha received the file of former Minister Michel Samaha and Syrian Security Chief Major General Ali Mamlouk after the government's Commissioner to the military Court Judge Saqr Saqr had referred to the Cassation Court the indictment with his review over two articles of the verdict that stipulated that the two not be trialed over some allegations.             

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.             

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.