Mikati, Rifi discuss developments in Samaha's case

Prime Minister Najib Mikati and head of Internal Security Forces Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi met Tuesday to discuss recent developments in the terror case of former Minister Michel Samaha. Security authorities have acquired “incriminating evidence” that ex-General Security head Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed accompanied Samaha when he transported explosives from Syria to Lebanon, a senior security source said Monday. DNA tests of samples from the seats of the former minister’s car proved Sayyed was in the vehicle during the trip, the source told The Daily Star. Military Investigative Judge Riad Abu Ghayda is scheduled Tuesday to resume interrogation of Samaha in the presence of one of his attorneys. Samaha, who is close to the Syrian government, has been charged with plotting to carry out terrorist attacks in the country, as well as assassinations of religious and political figures. The accusations are also directed at the head of Syria’s Intelligence Gen. Ali Mamlouk and another Syrian army officer. Samaha was also charged with transporting explosives from Syria into Lebanon. In his confession to the Internal Security Forces Information Branch shortly after his arrest on Aug. 10, Samaha said Syrian President Bashar Assad wanted bomb attacks in Lebanon, according to security sources. The Daily Star