Military court sentences 44 men for collaboration

A military court on Thursday sentenced 44 people to prison terms ranging from six months to seven years for collaborating with “Israel” during its 22-year occupation of the South.
Some of those sentenced were also fined between LL200, 000 and LL1 million and ordered to stay away from their villages for periods equal to their sentences once they finish serving their prison terms.
The court, presided over by Brigadier Maher Safieddine, also acquitted Najib Mustafa Ghazin and Qassem Mohammed Haidar and referred Mohammed Mahmoud Hariss to the Juveniles Court because he was under 18.
Most defendants were with the “Israeli”-proxy militia. Others, those receiving six-month sentences, were civilians who traded with “Israel” or traveled there.
The military court’s Thursday rulings brought the number of people tried to more than 1,100. The court has handed down prison terms of up to 15 years since the trials of collaborators began on June 5.
Also on Thursday, Assistant Military Investigating Magistrate Antoine Suleiman questioned 21 suspected collaborators. He ordered the trial of 18 and released the others.
After “Israel’s” May 24 withdrawal, some 2,200 “Israeli” agents surrendered or were captured. The rest, including some 300 militia officers, fled to “Israel” with their families.
Out of some 6,000 Lebanese who fled to “Israel”, about 200 have returned. Women and children went back to their villages, men surrendered to the military.

The Daily Star, 29-9-2000.