Military Court Approves Release of Ex-Minister Samaha on Bail
The Military General Prosecution agreed on Thursday to release former Minister Michel Samaha on bail.
He will be released from detention on bail of 150 million Lebanese pounds.
The military court's decision also prohibits the former minister from traveling and making statements through various media.
Samaha's lawyer Sakher Hashem later told Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5): “My client will sleep at his house today.”
“The decision to release him cannot be appealed in any way,” he added.
Upon his return to his Ashrafieh residence, Samaha said: “I will respect court orders to refrain from making statements.”
“My presence in jail was part of politics and I will resume my political career,” he remarked.
Samaha's next court date is set for January 21.
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi later condemned the military court's decision, saying that he will "carry out what his national duties demand him to do."
Samaha, 67, has been under arrest since August 2012 over allegations that he and Syrian security services chief Ali Mamluk transported explosives and planned attacks and assassinations of political and religious figures in Lebanon.
He pleaded guilty all charges against him during his trial that kicked off in April 2015, admitting that he had transported explosives from Syria for use in attacks in Lebanon.
But the former information minister said he had been the victim of entrapment because he was not aware that his co-conspirator was a Lebanese security services informer.
He was sentenced in May later that year to four-and-a-half years in prison.
Several politicians at the time condemned the light verdict.
Syria maintained a nearly 30-year presence in Lebanon, withdrawing its troops in 2005 after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
But a series of assassinations of prominent anti-Syrian regime figures in Lebanon followed the withdrawal.
The Lebanese judiciary has issued an arrest warrant for Mamluk and sent Syria a formal notification of the warrant and charges, but received no response.
M.T.
G.K.
Source: Naharnet
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