Saqr Delays Decision on Shabaan's Involvement in Samaha's Case

State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr postponed on Friday taking a decision concerning Syrian top presidential adviser Bouthaina Shaaban's link to former Minister Michel Samaha's case until investigations are complete.

The National News Agency reported that Saqr asked First Examining Magistrate Riyad Abu Ghida to carry on the investigations and take the testimonies of Shaaban, Syrian security Chief Maj. Gen. Ali Mamlouk and a Syrian army colonel identified only by his first name Adnan.

On Thursday, Saqr was studying the testimony of former Minister Michel Samaha over the alleged involvement of Shaaban in his case.

Media reports had said that the Syrian official and former minister had contacted each other while the latter was in Syria to transport explosives to Lebanon, raising suspicions that she is linked to the affair.

Samaha was interrogated on Thursday by Abu Ghida on whether the former minister had contacted the Syrian official while he was in Syria to transport explosives from Damascus to Beirut.

In August, Samaha, Mamlouk and Adnan were charged by the Lebanese judiciary with forming a criminal gang aimed at carrying out attacks in Lebanon at Syria's behest.