Recently, a number of citizens have been subjected to extortion and theft in a fraudulent manner in various areas of Beirut by an unidentified individual riding a motorcycle. This person deliberately collides with vehicles and misleads drivers into believing they have hit him and that he has been harmed due to the collision. He then extorts money from them as compensation for damages after threatening to file a lawsuit against them, before disappearing from view.
In response, the Information Branch was tasked with conducting field and investigative measures to identify and arrest the suspect. As a result of extensive investigations and inquiries, they were able to uncover his identity; he is known as A. F. (born in 1985, Lebanese), and he has a criminal record involving theft, fraud, embezzlement, drug offenses, assault, and attempted murder.
On July 19, 2023, through intelligence efforts and monitoring, he was spotted in downtown Beirut attempting to carry out a fraudulent theft from a driver of one of the cars, during which he was arrested on the motorcycle he used for his operations, which was also seized.
During the investigation, he confessed to the charges against him and the necessary legal measures were taken. Based on the orders of the competent judiciary, the Internal Security Forces General Directorate circulated the image of the arrested individual and requested that anyone who fell victim to his actions should go to the Information Branch – Beirut Division or contact the phone number 01-307728 to take the necessary legal actions.
The General Directorate also urged citizens, upon witnessing or being involved in similar incidents, to call the emergency number /112/.
