Lebanon's military court conceded Tuesday to the appeal request submitted by State Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Saqr Saqr in the case of former Minister Michel Samaha.
Consequently, the court set July 16 as a date for Samaha’s retrial.
Former minister Michel Samaha was sentenced in May to four and a half years in prison, and stripped of all civil rights.
The verdict also stipulated that his years of detention would be counted from the day he was incarcerated, leaving him to serve the remaining 11 months in prison according to Samaha’s defense attorney.
The issuance of the Samaha’s verdict triggered a chain of reactions slamming the Military Court’s judgement. Justice Minister Rifi said that the outcome of Samaha’s case is “shameful,” stressing that he will not stand idly by while Lebanon's security is violated.
He stated that he will work by all means to amend the Code of Military Justice, adding that discussions are underway to refer Samaha’s case to the Judicial Council.