Lebanese Politicians Hail Samaha Jailing and Praise Court

Al-Mustaqbal movement chief MP Saad Hariri hailed on Friday the jailing of former Information Minister Michel Samaha over terrorism charges.

“The verdict against terrorist Michel Samaha rectifies a former lighter sentence which we have all disapproved and announced that we won't accept,” said Hariri via Twitter.

“Terrorist Samaha will return to jail today. It is the normal place for anyone who plans to kill innocent people or tries to drag the country to sedition and civil fights,” added the MP.

A military court sentenced Samaha to 13 years in prison with hard labor on Friday for attempting to carry out "terrorist acts", a judicial source said.

The minister had previously served four-and-a-half years in jail as part of a lighter sentence that had shocked the country and which saw his release from prison earlier this year.

For his part Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq said: “The sentence of the military court of cassation demonstrates our righteous trust in the court and its members.”

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour hailed the verdict dubbing it as “just” saying: “The sentence restores the people's trust in the judiciary and respect for the state. It directs a blow against the criminality of the terrorist regime in Syria.”

“The judiciary has started moving in the case of Michel Samaha ... will it carry on in other corrupt files?” asked the Democratic Gathering bloc chief MP Walid Jumblat via Twitter.

Samaha was convicted of transporting explosives to carry out attacks and assassinations of political and religious figures in Lebanon with the help of Syrian security services.

D.A.

M.T.