Head of Criminal Court of Cassation Withdraws from Samaha Case over Kinship

Head of the criminal court of cassation Judge Joseph Samaha stepped down from ex-Minister Michel Samaha Case over a family relationship, the state-run National News Agency reported on Monday.

According to the news agency, the judge sought to step down not to be "embarrassed" as the ex-Minister is a relative and hails from the same town.

Judge Samaha referred his request to head of the Higher Judicial Council Judge Jean Fahd to appoint another judge.

Last week, State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr referred a death penalty request against ex-Minister Samaha and Syrian security official Ali Mamlouk to the military court to kick off trials.

The criminal court of cassation confirmed earlier on Friday receiving the file.

First Military Examining Judge Riyad Abu Ghida recently indicted Samaha and Mamlouk on terrorism charges.

A search warrant to identify a Syrian colonel known only by his first name Adnan who plotted for the bombings with the other suspects was also issued.

Abu Ghida said Samaha and Mamlouk should be given the death sentence "for transporting explosives from Syria to Lebanon in an attempt to assassinate Lebanese political and religious leaders.”

The indictment also said that Samaha told the Syrian colonel and general that he would recruit people to carry out attacks in the northern Akkar region targeting Syrian rebels and weapons smugglers to Syria.

Samaha was detained in August, but Mamlouk remains free.