Lebanese Officials Slam Samaha's Release as Protesters Block Roads
Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea criticized on Thursday a court's decision to release ex-Minister Michel Samaha from custody stating that it is “rejected by all means.”
“Although I am not an expert on law, I know that releasing Samaha is rejected by all means,” said Geagea in a Tweet.
“How would I understand that a Lebanese has been released after conspiring with foreign parties to carry out acts of crime and explosions in his own country? What kind of message have the head of the court and the accompanying officers relayed to the Lebanese people after such a decision? What kind of hope and future have they left for the Lebanese and the sovereignty of the country?” asked an angered Geagea.
“This is an evil time, but we will not give in and we will do everything in our power to get out of this to a better time!” concluded the LF leader.
Later on Thursday, Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri condemned the decision to release Samaha, saying: “The officers' unanimous decision is a gift to the criminal in the name of the law.”
“The shameful and suspicious ruling is an award to the criminal and I will not remain silent over this issue,” he added.
“At any rate, the Lebanese people have made their judgment against Samaha, saying that he is a criminal, who was caught red-handed,” he noted.
“Such criminals deserve just punishment, which was laid down against numerous criminals of Samaha's ilk in the world of organized crime,” remarked the MP.
“Today we feel disgusted from the insufficient justice and we are fearful over the security of the Lebanese as long as the doors are open for criminals to escape a just ruling,” lamented Hariri.
On that note, he saluted slain Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Wissam al-Hassan and "the heroes of the branch, who are performing their duty in protecting Lebanon.”
Later on Thursday, Hariri noted that "the first response to this legal heresy must be a draft law to revise the Military Court's jurisdiction."
He also said that "those who are defending the criminal are worse criminals," in an apparent response to remarks by Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad.
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat also condemned the military court's decision, saying: “It is a strong blow to the great work that the security agencies have done and are still doing in combating terrorism.”
“The decision encourages crime if not legalizes it,” he added.
The Military General Prosecution agreed to release Samaha, who was an information minister from 1992 to 1995, on a 150 million Lebanese pounds bail, but prohibited him from traveling and making statements through various media.
Kataeb Party chief Sami Gemayel also commented saying: “The Lebanese judiciary has given a message to terrorists stating that the penalty for drug trafficking and planning to bomb the Lebanese at foreign orders is only three year imprisonment.”
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi denounced Samaha's releases saying:"We are living in a terrible time when criminals are allowed to get away with their crimes."
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq said: “We will have a response to Samaha's release louder than members of the Syrian regime, who justify killing and bombings, believe.”
On the ground, angry protesters took to the streets in Beirut and several areas, blocking roads in Beirut's Qasqas, Barbir, Corniche al-Mazraa, Cite Sportive and Verdun as well as the vital highway between Khalde and Beirut.
Protesters also blocked a road in the Tripoli area of Bab al-Tabbaneh.
Samaha had been under arrest since August 2012 over allegations that he and Syrian security services chief Ali Mamluk transported explosives and planned attacks and assassinations of political and religious figures in Lebanon.
He pleaded guilty on all charges against him during his trial that kicked off in April 2015, admitting that he had transported explosives from Syria for use in attacks in Lebanon.
But the former information minister said he had been the victim of entrapment because he was not aware that his co-conspirator was a Lebanese security services informer.
He was sentenced in May later that year to four-and-a-half years in prison.
Several politicians at the time condemned the light verdict.
Syria maintained a nearly 30-year presence in Lebanon, withdrawing its troops in 2005 after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
But a series of assassinations of prominent anti-Syrian regime figures in Lebanon followed the withdrawal.
The Lebanese judiciary has issued an arrest warrant for Mamluk and sent Syria a formal notification of the warrant and charges, but received no response.
D.A./Y.R.
Source: Naharnet
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