Top Cellphone Dealer, Security Personnel Referred to Military Magistrate
Financial General Prosecutor Judge Ali Ibrahim referred detainee and top cellphone dealer Kamel Amhaz and two airport security personnel to First Military Investigative Judge Riad Abou Ghaida, LBCI reported on Thursday.
LBCI said that Judge Ibrahim referred the detainees to the Military Magistrate because of the involvement of military personnel in the case.
Amhaz and two accomplices, Issam Amhaz and Abdullah, were arrested Tuesday on charges of smuggling phones into the country.
Reports have said that Amhaz was arrested following the detention of a number of airport security personnel on charges of turning a blind eye to suitcases containing smuggled cellphones in return for bribes.
The U.S. Treasury Department had in July 2014 slapped sanctions on Kamel and Issam Amhaz and their Beirut-based Stars Group Holding for electronics on charges of “procuring sophisticated military equipment for Hizbullah.”
According to the U.S. Treasury, Stars Group Holding is based in Beirut and has subsidiaries in China and the UAE.
After their detention on Tuesday, relatives of Amhaz blocked several roads in Beirut's suburbs and the Bekaa in protest at what they called “fabricated” charges.
Source: Naharnet
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