Judicial sources following the investigations told "Asharq Al-Awsat" that the intelligence directorate, which received the body of the murdered Pascal Suleiman, is continuing its investigations and collecting forensic evidence. They indicated that the judiciary had given instructions to the doctors during the examination of the body and the preparation of forensic medical reports, including conducting X-rays and scans to determine if there were fractures or gunshot wounds, among other things. They also requested to determine the cause and date of death.
The sources denied the presence of a committee of doctors from the Forces participating in the medical investigations at the military hospital, stating that this would conflict with the law regarding their work as official bodies. They added that once the state completes its work, and the family receives the body, the family can then decide whether to have Forces doctors examine the body or not.
Unknown assailants kidnapped the Forces leader Pascal Suleiman on Sunday evening, and the Lebanese Army announced on Monday evening that his kidnappers killed him while attempting to steal his car in the Jbeil area, and that they transported his body to Syria. The body was found in Syrian territory, and it was revealed that those involved belonged to a gang that had carried out many luxury car thefts in Lebanon. The Lebanese Army received the body from the Syrian authorities, and the Red Cross transported it to Lebanon, where it was taken to the Central Military Hospital for examination as part of the ongoing investigations, after which it will be handed over to his family.
The number of detainees in the case reached nine Syrians, including two believed to be directly involved in the kidnapping. Investigations showed that two others are also directly involved and are being pursued by Lebanese security forces. Judicial sources denied that there were any Lebanese among the detainees according to "Asharq Al-Awsat."
