Judge Joseph Samaha declines from reviewing Former Minister Samaha’s file

Chief of the Cassation Court Judge Joseph Samaha has declined from studying 2 articles pertaining to the indictment issued by the Military Investigative Judge Riad Abou Ghaida in the file of Former Minister Michel Samaha and Major General Ali Mamlouk.       

In this context, Judge Samaha referred the file on Monday to the Head of the Higher Judicial Council Judge Jean Fahed to appoint another judge.                            

Former Minister Michel Samaha was arrested on Thursday 9th of August by the Internal Security Forces’ Information Branch on suspicion of involvement in a plot to carry out terrorist attacks in Lebanon in collaboration with Syria.                                                   

He was charged by the government’s deputy commissioner at the Military Tribunal on Aug. 11, alongside Syrian National Security Bureau head Ali Mamlouk and a Syrian army officer identified as Brig. Gen. Adnan with plotting to assassinate political and religious figures in Lebanon and carrying out terrorist attacks.        

The three men were accused of planning to incite sectarian clashes through terrorist attacks in North Lebanon during the Eid using explosives that Samaha allegedly transported to Lebanon and stored after taking possession of them from Mamlouk and Adnan.