Lebanese Judiciary Orders Seizure of MP’s Assets

Police forces gather outside the parliament building in Downtown Beirut November 5, 2014. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
Police forces gather outside the parliament building in Downtown Beirut November 5, 2014. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
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Lebanese Judiciary Orders Seizure of MP’s Assets

Police forces gather outside the parliament building in Downtown Beirut November 5, 2014. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
Police forces gather outside the parliament building in Downtown Beirut November 5, 2014. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

The Lebanese judiciary ordered Thursday a provisional seizure of MP Hadi Hbeish’s assets in a case filed against him over his assault on Mount Lebanon Judge Ghada Aoun.

Judge Faisal Makki in Beirut issued Thursday an order on the provisional seizure of the assets belonging to Hbeish.

The seizure comes in light of the Lebanese state's case against the lawmaker to pay compensation to the state over his assault on Aoun.

Based on Makki’s decision, the state should be awarded LL500 million in damages in addition to another LL50 million.

Therefore, the judge ordered the provisional seizure of Hbeish’s immovable properties and cars.

In December, there was tension between Hbeish and Aoun after the arrest of Director-General of the Traffic and Vehicles Management Authority Hoda Salloum, who is a relative of the MP.

Following her arrest, Hbeish headed to the Justice Palace in Baabda where he launched a fierce verbal attack on Aoun for ordering Salloum’s arrest.

A video showed the lawmaker describing the judge as “a militiawoman and a symbol of corruption.”

Following the verbal assault, Aoun told a local television channel that “Salloum’s arrest was based on data and evidence,” and part of nationwide efforts to clamp down on corruption.

She then filed a complaint against the deputy over defamation and threats.

Hbeish said that Aoun had arrested Salloum unlawfully.



Stampede Kills Four People, Injures 16 in Umayyad Mosque in Damascus

A crowd gathers outside the Umayyad Mosque as they await updates following a stampede that occurred during Friday prayers in Damascus, Syria, Friday Jan. 10, 2025. (AP)
A crowd gathers outside the Umayyad Mosque as they await updates following a stampede that occurred during Friday prayers in Damascus, Syria, Friday Jan. 10, 2025. (AP)
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Stampede Kills Four People, Injures 16 in Umayyad Mosque in Damascus

A crowd gathers outside the Umayyad Mosque as they await updates following a stampede that occurred during Friday prayers in Damascus, Syria, Friday Jan. 10, 2025. (AP)
A crowd gathers outside the Umayyad Mosque as they await updates following a stampede that occurred during Friday prayers in Damascus, Syria, Friday Jan. 10, 2025. (AP)

Four people were killed and 16 injured in a stampede in the landmark Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on Friday, the Syrian state news agency (SANA) said.

Five children suffered fractures, severe bruises and fainting, the civil defense said in a statement.

Authorities were trying to determine the causes of the incident and will hold those responsible accountable, Damascus Governor Maher Marwan told SANA.

"We are working to take urgent measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in public places in the future," SANA quoted him as saying.

Syria's new rulers seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war and ending his family's decades-long rule.