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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Security Sources Say Samaha PC a 'Valuable Treasure'

2012-10-08

[An Nahar] Former minister Michel Samaha's personal computer represents a "valuable treasure" for the security agencies because it will reveal further details about his plot, a media report said on Sunday, as Mustaqbal ... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri... bloc MP Ziad al-Qaderi warned of attempts to wrap up the case by claiming that the seized explosives were targeted at resisting Israel. Lebanese security agencies unveiled the involvement of Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Lord of the Baath... 's adviser Buthaina Shaaban in the case "given the fact that Samaha, who owned three cellphones, used to regularly record all his phone conversations throughout the period of three years, before copying them to the computer that was seized on the day his house was raided by Intelligence Bureau agents," security sources told al-Mustaqbal newspaper in remarks published Sunday. "The Bureau has asked the relevant judicial authorities to authorize it to transcribe the recordings found on this computer," the sources added. Military Tribunal Judge Saqr Saqr referred to Military Examining Magistrate Riyad Abu Ghida on Saturday the file on the telephone call that allegedly took place between Samaha and Shaaban, state-run National News Agency reported. "Transcribing the recordings will take some time," the sources told al-Mustaqbal, noting that "once enough evidence emerged to confirm the presence of (Maj. Gen. Jamil) Sayyed in Samaha's car, the file was referred to the judiciary, and the same thing happened after transcribing some of the phone conversations between Samaha and Shaaban, as she turned out to be aware of his mission -- the smuggling of the explosives," the sources added. "The details related to Buthaina Shaaban were discovered 10 days ago and referred to the judiciary which only acted yesterday," the sources revealed. Meanwhile, ...back at the pie fight, Bella opened her mouth at precisely the wrong moment... Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anbaa revealed that "after reviewing the recordings made by Samaha's personal cellphones and the tapes found in his car, it was noticed that he made conversations with a woman he referred to as 'My Lady,' but when asked back then whether the lady on the other side of the phone was Dr. Buthaina Shaaban, he denied that." "But upon making a comparison between Buthaina's voice during media interviews and the voice recorded on ex-minister Samaha's tapes, IT experts found out that it was actually her voice and that Samaha talked to her before and after receiving the explosives, which suggests that the handing over process was the focal point of their conversation," al-Anbaa added. Separately, MP Ziad al-Qaderi told An Nahar newspaper in remarks published Sunday that "there is a scenario to distort the facts and claim that the explosives transported by Michel Samaha were targeted at resisting Israel." Qaderi warned of a "scenario being prepared by the Syrian regime and its allies to wrap up the case, as we have received information that there are political intentions to undermine the judicial and legal course of the case, which have started to take aim at the Intelligence Bureau, in a bid to repeat the scenario of retired Brig. Gen. Fayez Karam's case."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Lebanon Frees Ex-General Convicted Of Spying For Israel

2012-04-04

Lebanese judicial officials say a former army general who was sentenced to two years in prison for giving information to Israel has been sprung.   Tuesday's release of former Brig. Gen. Fayez Karam came days after parliament reduced his sentence to nine months. He was sent to prison in mid-2010, said the officials on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Aoun: ISF an Armed Gang that Work against the Laws

2011-11-02

[An Nahar] Free Patriotic Movement Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic... leader MP Michel Aoun ...a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hizbullah... slammed on Tuesday the Internal Security Forces, describing them as an armed gang. He said after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting: "If only it were a militia because it is an armed gang that is working against the laws." On Minister of the Displaced Akram Chehayeb's statements on state appointments, he noted: "They are waging a preemptive war against us and others." According to media reports, the minister had said: "A certain faction among the Lebanese is seeking to hoard all the appointments and shape administrative and electoral issues to its liking in order to eliminate another political camp and assume power." Addressing the dispute between Change and Reform bloc MP Nabil Nicola and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, Aoun remarked: "This is an individual incident, but it may affect our ties with the minister." "Why should the MP be blamed? Is it because he labeled the ISF as a militia?" he wondered. "They are an armed gang working against the laws," he noted. "If only they were a militia, because a militia liberates land, but the world has wronged militias," Aoun said. "Militias have a national goal to confront an occupier," he stressed. Nicola had told al-Jadeed television on Tuesday that Charbel "is ignorant of Lebanese laws." "I had hoped that the interior minister would have been more aware of the laws," he added. Furthermore, he urged him to "perform his duties in protecting the citizens and implement the laws." On the investigations with retired Brigadier General Fayez Karam, Aoun said: "We have spoken of flaws in the investigation and we have concluded that there is no evidence." "They have spoken of recordings but we have not been shown anything," he added. "They are pressuring the judiciary and violating its jurisdiction," stressed the FPM leader. Addressing former Premier Fouad Saniora's comments on the Appeals Court's approval to review the verdict in Karam's case, Aoun said: "Saniora is not being accused, but he is being condemned." The ex-PM had recently voiced fears that the acceptance of the appeal is a precursor to politicizing Karam's case, noting that this would harm the credibility of the judiciary. Addressing the call to resume national dialogue, Aoun said: "We have spent years discussing Hizbullah's arms. This is not a real issue." "I have presented a defense strategy. Let them study it and present their own," he added. "The greatest mistake lies in saying that the decision of war and peace lies in the hands of Hizbullah, whereas Israel holds this power," he noted.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Mustaqbal Calls on FPM to Disavow Karam over 'His High Treason'

2011-09-07

[An Nahar] The al-Mustaqbal ... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri... parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called on the Free Patriotic Movement Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic... to "disavow" retired Brig. Gen. Fayez Karam, who was sentenced Saturday by the Military Court to two years in jail on charges of spying for Israel. "The verdict issued against Fayez Karam requires the FPM to quickly disavow him due to his high treason," the bloc said.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Military Court Sentences Karam to 2 Years Hard Labor

2011-09-04

[An Nahar] The military court sentenced on Saturday retired Brigadier General Fayez Karam to three years reduced to two on charges of collaborating with Israel, the National News Agency reported. That's usually a death sentence, isn't it? Brig. Gen. Nizar Khalil headed the trial in the presence of Representative of the military prosecution office judge Fadi Akiki. Karam was convicted to three years in prison reduced to two years of hard labor for collaborating with Israel according to article 278 sanctions. The prosecutor also sentenced Lebanese runaway Elias Karam, who had allegedly introduced Fayez Karam to Israeli officers in Gay Paree, to 10 years in prison in absentia. "Military prosecutor Fadi Akiki has found retired general Fayez Karam guilty of contacting enemy (Israeli) intelligence... and providing them with political information," a judicial source told Agence La Belle France Presse. Karam, who collapsed when the sentence was read, was also stripped of all civil rights, the source said. The verdict did not find Karam guilty of spying for Israel, however. Seven witnesses were called for testimony: two doctors from Dahr al-Basheq hospital, Roumieh prison warden back them and four officers from the intelligence bureau who interrogated Karam, the NNA reported. Akiki demanded the court during trial to implement article 278 from sanctions. While defense attorney Rashad Salamah slammed the preliminary investigations that were taken from his client after using force. The Police Intelligence Bureau tossed in the calaboose in August 2010 Karam, a senior member of the Free Patriotic Movement Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic... , on suspicion of spying for Israel. Karam graduated from the military school in 1972 as lieutenant. He held several leadership positions in the army, including head of the counter-terror and spying bureau. He remained in his post until the Israeli invasion of Leb in 1982 and his imprisonment in Mazze for five months. Karam quit the military after Aoun was exiled to La Belle France in 1990. He returned with him to Leb in 2005 when Syria withdrew its troops from the country, ending its 29-year hegemony. More than 100 people have been tossed in the calaboose on suspicion of spying for the Israeli Mossad since April 2009, including members of the security forces and telecom employees. Several have since been sentenced to death, including one found guilty of aiding Israel during its devastating 2006 war with Hizbullah.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Jouzo: Aoun is Defending Spies as Hizbullah Stands Idle

2010-09-17

[An Nahar] Mount Lebanon Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Ali Jouzo slammed Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and Hizbullah on Thursday for attacking security officials and the judiciary. Aoun "is trying to protect Israel's spies in Lebanon, that's why he has launched a campaign against the (ISF) Intelligence Bureau ... which has unveiled the truth behind Fayez Karam, one of the most important FPM cadres," Jouzo said. "It is strange for Hizbullah to stand idle or to support the general (Aoun) in his stances," he said. Jouzo also accused the Shiite party of pushing former General Security Department chief Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed to attack Premier Saad Hariri and other officials in his press conference last Sunday to "obstruct the role of the international tribunal." "Why is Hizbullah afraid of the court if it sure of its innocence?" Jouzo wondered.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Lebanon charges colonel with spying for Israel

2010-08-19

[Al Arabiya Latest] Lebanon's military court on Wednesday charged a colonel with spying for Israel, a judicial source said, bringing to four the number of active duty soldiers arrested on charges of espionage. "Judge Sakr Sakr charged Colonel Antoine Abu Jaoudeh with spying for the (Israeli) enemy, meeting with Israeli Mossad agents abroad and providing them with information on the resistance (Hezbollah) and army in exchange for money from 2006 until his arrest" earlier this month, the source told AFP. More than 100 people have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Israel since April 2009, including members of the security forces and telecom employees. Many of the charge sheets accuse the suspects of having helped Israel identify targets during its devastating 2006 war with Shiite militant Hezbollah. The most high-profile arrest came earlier this month, when Fayez Karam, a former army general and top member of a Christian party allied with Hezbollah, was charged with espionage and providing the Jewish state with information on its arch-foe Hezbollah. Five Lebanese have been sentenced to death for spying for the Mossad so far, including two who were handed the death sentence Tuesday. Lebanon and Israel remain technically in a state of war, and convicted spies face life in prison with hard labor or the death penalty if found guilty of contributing to Lebanese loss of life.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Lebanon in shock after ex-general's arrest on spy charges

2010-08-08

[Al Arabiya Latest] This week's arrest of a well-respected retired general and politician allied with Hezbollah on suspicion of spying for Israel has sent shock waves through Lebanon and left many wondering how deep the Jewish state has infiltrated the country. Fayez Karam, a member of the Christian Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), is the first political figure to be arrested in Lebanon as part of a wide-ranging probe launched in 2009 into Israeli spy networks. A well-informed source close to the investigation said that after his detention last Monday on the orders of the prosecutor general, Karam confessed to spying for Israel. "You don't arrest someone like him without rock-solid proof and there was enough evidence against him," the source, who requested anonymity, said. "He may not have given the Israelis much technical information, but his arrest has a huge political impact because of his position and rank," he added. He said Karam, 62, who stood in parliamentary elections last year, allegedly used cell phones with roaming numbers from European countries to contact his Israeli handlers. He reportedly met them in Paris, where he travelled regularly, and was nabbed because of an unspecified mistake. Ironically, in the 1980s Karam headed the Lebanese army's anti-terrorism and counter-espionage unit where he worked closely with FPM leader Michel Aoun, who was army chief at the time and who also served as interim prime minister.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Lebanon general detained on spying suspicions

2010-08-05

[Al Arabiya Latest] Lebanese authorities have detained a senior member of a Christian party allied with the Shiite Hezbollah on suspicion of spying for Israel, a source close to the party told AFP on Wednesday. "Fayez Karam of (retired) General Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement is being held for questioning for his possible involvement in espionage" on behalf of Israel, the source told AFP on condition of anonymity. Karam was a general in the Lebanese army during the country's 1975-1990 civil war but quit the military after Aoun, who was army chief and who fought Syrian troops near the end of the war, went into exile in France. Aoun returned to Lebanon in 2005, one month after Syria withdrew its troops following a 29-year presence. In a controversial move in 2006, he entered an alliance with the Iran- and Syria-backed Hezbollah. He also caused a stir by visiting Damascus and Tehran. More than 70 people have been arrested on suspicion of spying for the Israeli Mossad since April 2009, when the government launched a nationwide crackdown on alleged rings. The arrests include members of the security forces and telecom employees. Three men have since been sentenced to death, including one found guilty of aiding Israel during its devastating 2006 war with Hezbollah.

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