The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division announced today, Sunday, that "on 21/06/2023, in the town of Haret Hreik, two individuals on a blue motorcycle, details unknown, displayed a firearm at citizen A.M. (born in 1953, Lebanese) and stole an amount of 120 million Lebanese pounds, with one of them striking him on the head with the gun's butt, necessitating his transfer to the hospital for treatment, after the perpetrators fled on the motorcycle to an unknown location. Videos of the incident circulated on social media."
Immediately, "the Information Branch was tasked with taking field and investigative measures to uncover and apprehend those involved. As a result of intensive investigations, they were able to identify both individuals within hours, one of whom is the mastermind named A.S. (born in 1985, Lebanese), who has a history of theft crimes and is considered dangerous and continuously armed."
On 19/08/2023, after careful monitoring, "the special force of the branch successfully raided his home in Bashamoun, took control of the situation, prevented him from using his service weapon, which was seized. They also found another firearm (the one used in the armed robbery), a six-shot knife, and some substances believed to contain drugs."
During questioning, "he confessed to the charges against him regarding several armed robberies and thefts within various areas of Mount Lebanon. He admitted to executing the armed robbery against A.M. in Haret Hreik along with another person. He also confessed that on 16/08/2023, he committed a fraudulent theft of a motorcycle in the neighborhood of Burj al-Barajneh, and the service weapon seized was previously stolen from someone in the city of Choueifat using a six-shot knife (which was found in his home), and he admitted to drug use."
Legal actions have been taken against him, and he has been detained along with the seized items at the competent authority, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend his accomplice.
The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces, based on judicial instructions, "is circulating a photo of the aforementioned detainee and requests that anyone who has fallen victim to his crimes and recognizes him to head to the Information Branch in Mount Lebanon at the location of Jisr al-Basha, or contact 513732/01 to take necessary legal actions."
