Army Arrests Slain Monk’s Murderers
The Army Command announced on Friday its arrest of two Syrian nationals who confessed to the killing of Maronite monk Elie Jerji al-Maqdessi.
It said that Anwar Hassan al-Rabih confessed to committing the murder at the region of Ain Aanoub with Mohammed Mustapha al-Qatit.
They first robbed the monk and then strangled him to death.
They then placed him in the trunk of his car and headed to al-Naameh region where they dumped his body.
They left the scene in the victim’s vehicle and the next day, they sold his mobile phone.
The Army Command statement added that investigations with the criminals revealed that they were in possession of false identification cards and that five other people, who have already been arrested, are likely linked to the crime.
In addition, it said that al-Qatit confessed to stabbing to death Luciano Siranossian on September 13, 2011 in order to rob him.
He said that he had accomplices in the crime.
Maqdessi, 51, was strangled to death with a rope, the National News Agency reported on Sunday, after his body was found Saturday morning on the seaside road in Naameh.
The monk of the Bhersaf Monastery in Northern Metn originally hails from the Bekaa town of Hawsh Hala.
The rope used to kill Maqdessi was found near his body which was taken to Siblin Hospital, NNA said.
The body was later handed over to the monk’s family.
Al-Jadeed television noted that the monk was not wearing a religious costume.
Later on Sunday, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said in an interview with al-Jadeed that the slain monk had arrived from Belgium 10 days ago.
Charbel said that the security agencies have made some progress in the investigations, noting that there is no sectarian motive behind the crime.
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