Arrest Warrants Issued against Five Roumieh Prison Guards

Military Examining Magistrate Judge Riyad Abou Ghida questioned on Thursday five guards, who have been charged in the Roumieh prison beating case, and issued arrest warrants against them.

LBCI TV said the questioning of the five men revealed that four more people, including policemen and civilians, are involved in the case.

The four suspects will be questioned by Abou Ghida next Monday.

State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged the five guards on Tuesday for abusing Islamist inmates in Roumieh.

They were arrested after online video clips made the rounds on social media on Sunday, showing several of them beating the prisoners.

Roumieh is Lebanon's largest prison and has long been infamous for the poor conditions in some of its blocks, including overcrowding and harsh treatment.

General Prosecutor Judge Samir Hammoud said Tuesday that the torture of the three inmates as seen in the video clips was motivated by personal reasons.

The beating of the prisoners was not ordered by any side, he said.

According to media reports, two of the arrested guards beat the inmates while a third recorded the assault on a mobile phone.

The two other guards have likely leaked the video, they said.

G.K.

M.T.