22 Charged with Setting up Illegal Internet Stations

The financial general prosecutor charged on Saturday 22 individuals with setting up illegal internet stations.

Judge Ali Ibrahim also charged the suspects with embezzling public funds.

Two of the suspects are in custody.

Last month, the government kicked off efforts to dismantle internet stations that were illegally set up in several areas around Lebanon.

Telecommunications Minister Butros Harb had said that they posed a serious danger to Lebanon's national security since they were linked to Israel.

The owners of these stations were buying international internet bandwidth with nominal cost from Turkey and Cyprus which they were selling back to Lebanese subscribers at reduced prices.

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 breaches as they lack the basic control standards exposing Lebanon's security to third parties including Israel.