The Beirut Criminal Court, composed of President Judge Samir Akeaky and advisors Judges Rola Abdullah and Lara Abdelsamad, issued its ruling against five customs employees for accepting money and receiving bribes, based on Article 364 of the Penal Code. Some were convicted while others were acquitted.
The court noted that the defendants are: "Said Darwish Al-Buraj, Ali Mohammed Khashfa, Ibrahim Khalil Al-Mar, Mahmoud Wahib Bou Shahin, and Mona Samaan Siriani," all working as inspectors in warehouse number 19 at the Port of Beirut. They were questioned properly and denied the charges against them.
The case was founded on a letter submitted by the President of the Supreme Council of Customs on June 25, 2014, in addition to the Public Prosecution's request to conduct necessary actions following an investigation into the content of a televised episode broadcast on the New TV (Ntv) channel on April 15, 2015. This episode included video recordings of some customs employees working at the Port of Beirut.
After conducting investigations concerning the contents of the mentioned episode within the program "Under the Weight of Responsibility," which showcased the administrative dealings at customs offices, highlighting corruption and bribery from the accused employees as described by the program’s presenters, it was found that the Customs Authority conducted preliminary investigations prior to referring the file to the judiciary through the Public Prosecution and under the oversight of the Financial Public Prosecution.
Based on the facts and evidence, the court ruled as follows:
- Conviction of the defendants Said Al-Buraj, Ali Mohammed Abu Khashfa, and Mahmoud Wahib Bou Shahin for violating Article 364 of the Penal Code, sentencing them to six months in prison and imposing a fine of one billion Lebanese pounds on each, with time spent in detention to be deducted.
- Acquittal of defendant Ibrahim Khalil Al-Mar due to insufficient evidence.
- Acquittal of defendant Mona Samaan Siriani due to doubt.
- Immediate release of defendants Al-Mar and Siriani unless they are held for another reason.
- Imposition of court fees and expenses on convicted defendants Al-Buraj, Abu Khashfa, and Bou Shahin. The judgment was rendered in absentia against Al-Buraj and face-to-face against Abu Khashfa, Bou Shahin, Al-Mar, and Siriani.
