”A military court handed down sentences against 30 “Israeli”-allied militiamen on Saturday convicted of collaborating with “Israel”, including one sentence of 120 years in prison.
Emile Nasr, a former commander of the Jezzine enclave, was found guilty on 13 counts, including 10 of “collaboration with the “Israeli” enemy in a position of responsibility.”
The convictions carried a cumulative sentence of 120 years. But he is expected to serve only 10 years for collaborating with a wartime enemy, revealing confidential information about the Lebanese Army and entering “Israel”.
Brigadier Maher Saifeddine, the head of the court, has also referred Nasr’s file to the military tribunal to begin legal proceedings against him on charges of terrorism.
”Nasr achieved notoriety in 1997 for shelling Sidon in revenge for the deaths in a roadside bomb blast of his nephew and niece. Seven civilians were killed in the shelling and 42 wounded.
After several attempts on his life by the resistance in the following months, Nasr left the militia and returned to his home in Aishiye. But Nasr apparently cut a deal with Hizbullah in which he supplied information to the resistance in exchange for his life. Nasr, a major in the militia, handed himself into the army a month before the end of “Israel’s” occupation. He was the highest ranking officer to have defected.
Another notorious figure sentenced was Etienne Saqr, the leader of the Guardians of the Cedars militia, who received 15 years in absentia. Also known as Abu Arz, Saqr is believed to have fled to “Israel” when the occupation zone collapsed.
Saifeddine also sentenced eight collaborators to prison terms ranging one to 15 years.
Trials of 12 former militiamen are due to start on Monday. A total of 545 collaborators have been indicted. The military court has been holding three sessions a week as it tries some 2,200 Lebanese accused of collaborating with “Israel”.

The Daily Star, 3-7-2000.