Sunday, January 17, 2016

What gives in Lebanon?

Some good may come of the release of Lebanese ex-minister Michel Samaha after all. Now it appears that a bill has been drafted that would get rid of the military court and create a new forum for trying terrorism and other significant offenses. That's the good news. The bad news is that people also have in mind subjecting M. Samaha to a second trial. See details hereNon bis in idem, anyone?

Background from the news account:
Samaha, who was information minister from 1992 to 1995, was released in exchange for a bail payment of 150 million Lebanese pounds ($100,000), according [to] the text of the Military Court's judgment. 
Under his bail conditions, Samaha, 67, would be barred from leaving the country for at least one year, speaking to the press or using social media. 
Samaha, a former adviser to Syrian President Bashar Assad, admitted during his trial that he had transported the explosives from Syria for use in attacks in Lebanon. 
But he argued he should be acquitted because he was a victim of entrapment by a Lebanese security services informer.

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