Lebanese judge wants death for Samaha

Lebanese magistrate Riad Abu Ghayda has called for former Lebanese Minister of Information, Michel Samaha and Syria’s former Chief of Intelligence Major General Ali Mamlouk to be given the death penalty. The duo face charges of plotting attacks on political and religious figures in Lebanon and targeting "Syrian gunmen" and "smugglers" in the Akkar region along Lebanon's northern border with Syria. Ghida said both men should be given "the ultimate punishment for transporting explosives from Syria to Lebanon in an attempt to assassinate Lebanese political and religious leaders." Samaha was arrested on September 9 2012 as he was transporting explosives to Beirut, which were to be blown up at sunset during Ramadan. At the time of his arrest, the ex-minister was carrying $170,000 in cash. During initial questioning, authorities learnt that Samaha was going to hand the money over to chief witness Milad Kfouri, who was operating undercover with guidance from Chief of Intelligence Wissam al-Hassan. Al-Hassan was assassinated on October 19 2012, and Kfouri recorded audio and video meetings with Samaha, documenting the whole affair.