Samaha's Attorney Asks for his Release for 'Lack of Bloodshed'
The defense lawyer of former Information Minister Michel Samaha, who has been charged with plotting attacks and transporting explosives, called on Wednesday for his release, saying his crime was only based on plots.
In remarks to LBCI TV outside the military court in Beirut, Sakher Hashem said: “Samaha is accused of a crime in which there was no bloodshed.”
“We urge his release,” he said, adding he would appeal it or make a new request if the court rejected his demand.
Samaha's trial was last month postponed to December 3 because of the absence of his alleged co-conspirator Gen. Ali Mamlouk, a Syrian security chief.
Samaha had been expected to face the first session of his trial before the military court, but the judge overseeing the process, Brig.-Gen. Khalil Ibrahim, announced a delay so that Mamlouk can report to the court.
Samaha was arrested in August 2012, but Mamlouk -- one of Syria's most senior security officials -- is believed to be in Syria.
The two face charges of "transporting explosives from Syria to Lebanon in an attempt to assassinate Lebanese political and religious leaders.”
If convicted, they face the death penalty.
A Syrian colonel known only by his first name as Adnan has also plotted the attacks with them.
Investigators have said that explosives were found in Samaha's car.
According to the indictment, they were delivered by Adnan to Samaha in Syria with the approval of Mamlouk.
The Lebanese judiciary issued an arrest warrant for Mamlouk and Adnan and sent Syria a formal notification of the warrant and charges in February, but received no response.
In the event of a non-response, Lebanese law allows for the trial against Samaha to proceed with Mamlouk being tried in absentia, but the court has not so far suggested it would take that approach.
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