Samaha, Mamlouk Charged with Planning Attacks in Lebanon
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Government deputy Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Sami Sader charged on Saturday ex-Information Minister Michel Samaha and Syrian security Chief Maj. Gen. Ali Mamlouk with forming a group to commit crimes in Lebanon.
The two were also charged with plotting to assassinate political and religious figures.
A judicial source told Agence France Presse that General Mamlouk is "suspected of forming a group to provoke sectarian killings and terrorist acts using explosives, which were transported and stored by Samaha.”
An arrest warrant was issued against Samaha after evidence, including video footage, proved his involvement in the plot.
According to Voice of Lebanon (100.5) the indictment includes a Syrian Colonel known as Brig. Gen. Adnan.
VDL reported that if the charges were proven then the culprits might be sentenced to hard labor or death.
Sader referred the case to Military Examining Magistrate Judge Riad Abu Ghida who will carry on the investigation with the suspects on Monday.
Earlier, acting General Prosecutor Samir Hammoud said the case was referred to the military prosecutor to take the appropriate legal decision after Samaha was questioned by the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch since his arrest at his home in the North Metn town of Jwar al-Khenshara on Thursday morning.
The ex-minister was taken by the ISF from its base in Beirut to the military tribunal on Saturday morning.
According to media reports, Samaha was arrested after a man from the Kfoury family informed the ISF that the former minister had asked to provide him with a group of men to transport explosives to northern Lebanon in return for a sum of money.
After receiving the tip, Kfoury was handed a spy pen camera that exposed Samaha in the weeks before his arrest.
The bomb attacks were reportedly to take place during Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s visit to the northern district of Akkar and to target Iftar banquets attended by important personalities, including Syrian opposition members.
The main objective was to create Sunni-Alawite and Sunni-Christian strife, the reports said.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Friday quoted Samaha as telling interrogators that he transported the explosives upon orders from President Bashar Assad.
But one of Samaha’s lawyers, Malek al-Sayyed, said ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and Police Intelligence chief col. Wissam al-Hassan should be interrogated on the spread of information to the media.
11 August 2012, 11:19
112
this is the spokesperson for the syrian regime and the axis of resistance and steadfastness.....LOL..... The Syrian officials (if they can be called as such) have always maintained their care for Lebanon's stability and well being...... and that is how they show it. I guess we all knew it before, but no one was able to physically catch them. Hats up to the ISF and the heroes of the Intelligence Bureau.
11 August 2012, 12:17
16
The son in outlaw is filthy & stupid:"11 August 2012, 06:47 Energy Minister Jebran Bassil to VDL (93.3): Samaha’s case should have been investigated by a trustworthy agency. He shouldn’t have been arrested that way" Idiot! Even hezbollah are now cautious on the mater...
11 August 2012, 15:43
16
to all m14 commentators,
lately someone pointed out to me that trying to discuss with m8 guys is useless, and I agree with him, as all that will happen is insults and more insults.
in the spirit of one unified Lebanon, I urge all m14 not to reply to comments from m8 at any cost.
if they do not want to realize what their policies and actions are doing to our country, we should not do the same.
I hope you will all comply, even when they attack us directly.
12 August 2012, 02:29
01
I very rarely indulge in dialogue with them here and elsewhere. They get defensive immediately and no matter what, they are always right and you are always wrong. I learned quickly not to waste time with them, all of them. They follow instructions well from their superiors.
11 August 2012, 16:08
20
The death penalty is an abomination, whoever the criminal is or whatever he/she did.
11 August 2012, 19:13
00
Even if the criminal is aiming to bomb civilian targets? Spread fear? Sow civil war? These aren't ordinary crimes. They include mass murder and treason.
11 August 2012, 11:00
211
Next steps:
1) the Lebanese government must issue arrest warranta against all syrian officials who are involved in this and supplied Micho the bombs.
2) the Syrian ambassador must return to his hole in Damascus.
3) an official complaint must be filed at the UN security council by the Foerign Ministry (hahahaha)
4) add this case to the International Tribunal
I think I have a better chance of becoming the next Pope than any of the above getting implemented !!!
11 August 2012, 12:01
00
Ya Flame Thrower, ya reitak threw up (vomited) u ma hkeet... you are comparing Mawlawi to Samaha... Samaha was transporting explosives to lebanon, to use them in lebanese territory, to damage lebanese property, to kill lebanese people, in order to provoke sectarian war... 3ambet2aren Mawlawi, tejir sleh bi irhebi Samaha... shu hal logic el gharib li 3andkun yeh...
11 August 2012, 12:01
313
FT - Nice attempt to garner christian sympathy and support by saying that the law only applies to us. Tying the samaha story who is guilty (or at least it seems) of attempting to create civil strife on behalf of a foreign government is similar to a hearsay story of salafis supporting the FSA. Your racist insinuations that the Sunnis are above the law is ridiculous and shows really how bankrupt Assad apologists have become. What you're trying to do is exactly what the regime is doing by trying to pitt all non-Sunnis vs. Sunnis to make them seems as the big bad monster except you do it from behind your screen under the alias Flame Thrower. There has been Christian and Sunni Co-existence for 1500 years in the levant so the petty attempts by Assad and Aoun cronies to distort this history will fail miserably.
11 August 2012, 14:30
25
By merely saying that a certain sect is above the law proves directly that you are a bigot. That's what is known as a generalization whereby you're mixing politics and religion. I'm not going to stoop as low as you by resorting to insults because you feel cornered. To say that only christians are law abiding citizens again is direct proof that you're a racist. I'm sure that many people in Lebanon including christians would disagree with you and say that it's politicians in general along with their cronies who are above the law and not certain sects. I don't attack Shi3as but I do attack Iran which isn't the same thing. Given that Iran is directly contributing to the slaughter on my people on a daily basis, you're damn right I'm going to attack Iran. They could be Zorastrian for all I care, they are a scourge just like the Israelis that need to be stopped.
11 August 2012, 14:30
25
Stargate - You're obviously a misinformed soul, go read about the history of Christians and Muslims in the Levant over the past 1500 years then we can have a discussion about the history of that relationship. I wasn't talking about the Gulf Arabs, I have nothing to do with them as my history, culture and way of life is completely different to theirs. If you want to talk about Iraqi Christians, I suggest that you go read a little bit more about the role that the US, UK and Israel played in sitrring up sectarian strife over there. Don't oversimplify matters and just quote OTV or Al Akhbar as your news sources or as a reality. Maybe the older you grow, the more you'll realize that you're nothing but a pawn in some warlords' hands.
11 August 2012, 12:14
00
Well done Kfoury... he must be named a Hero if he's not involved in previous dirty jobs
11 August 2012, 14:27
00
Please anyone who knows that samaha is guilty rise a finger, there in the front thank you Mr samaha I guess that confirms it.
11 August 2012, 14:42
00
Excellent post Flamethrower. We truely are under the law and the army and ISF assert the law on the likes of us only. As for the rest and including hizbulla and elements in the north/south, they have all established mini rogue states! They dare not trespass!
11 August 2012, 14:59
00
Turns out the danger on the Christians was not from the Salafis, Wahabism or the February 14 slaughter-loving Wahabis Christians (FM, Kataeb, PSP, and LF) but from the pro-Syrian Bashar loving Qwamis, Aounis, Baathist, Naserites and their non Lebanese Iranian allies of Amal and Hezballah who defended Bashar and Michel Samahas attempt on`Patriarch Raii in Akkar.
I stand corrected.
11 August 2012, 15:13
24
@ FT, you keep comparing Mawlawi case to Samaha, first of all it's alleged that Mawlawi is helping the FSA in their struggle against an illegitimate regime oppressing and slaughtering it's own people just like it did in Lebanon for some 30 plus years, we will never forget what those scum bags put us thrue in Ashrafieh, besides I find it odd that you don't support Mawlawi after all he is fighting the same regime that slaughtered your master's followers and sent your master into exile in the trunk of a car in his Pajamas , Mawlawi is doing what your scum bag should be doing and promised to do but he's a gutless worthless coward, on the other hand Samaha was planning terrorist acts against his very own people to include our very own BATRAK, an act he should be sent to the gallows for , so please spare us the BS you and your Syrian/Iranian cronies are a bunch of spineless cowards.
11 August 2012, 16:52
23
you have so much hate to the LF it's not even funny, the sad thing if it wasn't for the 1000's of young martyrs of the LF all of us Christians would've been driving into the sea and fed to the dogs,Does Damour ring a bell or were you even alive then, this is the thank you they deserve and by the way I bet you I've been around much longer then you and have lived thru alot worth then you'll ever know but it seems like anyone that disagrees with your sick and twisted views is either an idiot and or deserves to be liquidated, you are a deranged human being that no shrink on this planet can help, I think damn near everyone on this thread shares my views of you, take a look in the mirror, you're a twisted whatever you are . By the way the only people that kneel to their Syrian master is your clown in the orange suite and those who support him.
11 August 2012, 20:24
02
The LF turned on the army? See there you go again twisting facts to make them fit your views/agenda, you are as deranged as your master. Go play with my legos? lol, is that the best you can come up with,you are full of yourself, I'll leave it at that.
11 August 2012, 15:18
15
This story is devastating and if the investigation bears out the allegations, it should turn all of Lebanon against the Assad Regime. In Lebanon's fragile sectarian mix, especially in the North, the last thing needed is the planting of bombs by interlopers attempting to ignite sectarian conflict.
The Assad acolytes have been beating the drum that this is being done by Qaida elements that have filtered into north Lebanon. Now we see that the only Qaida up there is Michel Samaha, who is Orthodox by the way. Funny how the truth makes a lie out of the M8 Government and all that it does and says.
11 August 2012, 15:19
22
Hezbollah ....... what about those who fought against Syrian Occupation during the civil war ? They where martyrs too !!!!
11 August 2012, 15:51
22
It should be Gollum not Gouloum (sounds Turkish :-)).
It should be were not where.
11 August 2012, 17:17
02
Ok I know it's Gollum like a said yesterday I prefer Gouloum. And thanks for correcting ;D
11 August 2012, 15:26
22
If Michel Samaha is guilty then let him be punished by the law to the maximum. If he is not guilty then why are you guys killing each other? At least wait for the results to come out.
If he is guilty, there might be others as well. Let the law find them one by one and finish with them.
Why you keep fighting? This is what some countries are wanting: The Lebanese to fight each other instead of uniting and build their own country whether Christian, Muslim, Druze or whatever.
I see the level of some of the posts above and it is utterly disgusting.
It could be that this is all a bait from outside just like other things that are happening. We need to be vigilant and use our minds instead of living on our instincts that are aroused easily by our harlot politicians X and Y.
11 August 2012, 15:43
31
where is the moderator of this site? Haram all the money your parents spent on educating you.With filthy language like this you are showing how uneducated you are.Sinceyou can't find the proper words to decribe your feelings you resort to insults wmsabat.So childish.
11 August 2012, 16:24
14
We do oppose the Iranian and Syrian regimes... but we sure do not embrace the KSA regime either... Stop this childish fantasy about wahabism and all that crap... simply ridiculous...
11 August 2012, 16:44
32
Although I dislike Michel Samaha , this whole story doesn't make sense. A 64-year old politician, a somewhat brilliant strategist doesn't transport in his car an amount of explosives ... Come on ... The Syrian Mukhabarat don't have any thugs left ?.... This is not credible. If it were Wiam Wahab or Nasser Qandil, then maybe...
I wonder if a deal wasn't brokered s and Samaha may be part of the price to pay...
12 August 2012, 01:04
02
guys they said he has a video halla2 whether its true or not in time we will find out so guys relax
11 August 2012, 18:11
00
now we know how syria works in lebanon.... and every pro syrian MP and March 8 political leader are implicated... this is how allegiance to assad was done... so they all rise and die together...
11 August 2012, 18:21
00
When would Christians and Muslims wake up, and realize that Evil from both sides wants to create hatred? After this incident, if the do not change, they deserve to go to hell...
11 August 2012, 18:22
00
SYRIAN REGIME WANTED TO ASSASINATE M14 LEADERS AND BOMB PEOPLE IN ORDER TO MAKE A CIVIL WAR IN LEBANON: This is enough to declare war on Syria and kick the embassador out and all orangies or Hizb should make a statement to clarify their opinion, then if they still wanted to be supporting the assad regime, then their Leaders should be taken for investigation as they aLso part of the game.
11 August 2012, 18:26
03
When would Christians and Muslims wake up, and realize that Evil from both sides wants to create hatred? After this incident, if the do not change, they deserve to go to hell...
11 August 2012, 18:32
00
Tony, You have this all wrong Mowaten and FT would have enjoyed the tests ..
The more pleasure the better....they would say
11 August 2012, 19:31
00
We Lebanese are truly people with hope. We should agree that both Israelis and Syrians are our enemies. Whoever is conspiring with both against Lebanon's peace and stability should be called a spy or traitor and should be sentenced to Death without question. That in my opinion is the only way to build a sovereign country with messed up neighbors.
11 August 2012, 20:00
05
Imagine if the only difference in the case was that he was working for Israel? The Hezz and Co. would be calling for his head. But when he is working for the other enemy (ASSad), the Hezz and Co. are trying to protect him.
11 August 2012, 20:39
00
Don't point out the obvious...we already know what people like him are.
11 August 2012, 20:41
00
Case in point...let's all pretend we all signed a petition to ignore these people...as if they don't exists. Long live M14 and Free Lebanon.
11 August 2012, 21:27
00
Tout ceci porte a l'optimisme. si les syriens sont arrives au point d'utiliser M. Samaha qui a demontre' d'etre incompetent pour faire ses attentats, c'est qu'ils savaient que les grands partis politiques libanais entre leur allies ne l'aurait pas fait. de mon cote' cette idee me fait du bien et j'espere avoir raison.
12 August 2012, 01:07
00
bashar el assad did state in 2005 that he is gonna burn lebanon to the ground and it was all over the news so how could syria not be blamed with the help of the iranians and HA
12 August 2012, 01:12
00
and stargate so wat if u lived through the entire civil war does that make u any smarter then some of us here.....um no it doesnt and we all live in reality now the thing is christians r getting slaughtered but lets face the fact muslims r being massacred every day by wat it looks like the ur leader assad
