Hammoud Permits Prosecution of ISF Members over Illegal Internet after Basbous' Refusal
State Prosecutor Samir Hammoud gave the permission to prosecute officers and members of the Internal Security Forces who are considered suspects in the illegal internet file that rose to the spotlight in March, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.
The suspects could be found involved in the illegal entry of equipment that was used in installing internet stations in some mountainous terrains.
Hammoud's orders came after Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen.Ibrahim Basbous refused earlier to give an approval to question ISF members, reportedly saying that the necessary investigations in the file were run and none of the said members turned out to be involved, said the daily.
Sources that took part in Tuesday's meeting of the ministerial committee tasked with following up on the file told the daily: “We have discussed some measures to speed up and widen the scope of investigations.”
The committee focused on “finding out the ways that were used to move the electronic equipment to the locations were the networks were first installed, and uncover the identity of potentially involved security and customs members.”
The committee met to discuss the illegal network file that it unveiled in March when it said that a “mafia” is taking advantage of illicit internet services by installing internet stations that are not subject to state control.
The owners of these stations are buying international internet bandwidth with nominal cost from Turkey and Cyprus which they are selling back to Lebanese subscribers at reduced prices, reports have said.
It has been reported that wireless internet towers and technical equipment were placed illegally in some mountainous terrains including Tannourine, al-Dinnieh, Sannine and al-Zaarour.
Smuggled internet services initiate risks namely the possibility of security breach as it lacks the basic control standards exposing Lebanon's security to third parties including Israel.
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