Report: Lebanon arrests military officer for collaborating with Israel

military commander, Joseph Aoun, asked not to be lenient with the crimes and suspicions attributed to the officer.

By YASSER OKBI/MAARIV
Updated: JULY 31, 2018 02:55
Lebanese army soldiers patrol the city on the eve of the country's parliamentary election, in Sidon, Lebanon May 5, 2018 (photo credit: ALI HASHISHO/REUTERS)
Lebanese army soldiers patrol the city on the eve of the country's parliamentary election, in Sidon, Lebanon May 5, 2018
(photo credit: ALI HASHISHO/REUTERS)
Lebanon's military police arrested a senior Lebanese military officer on suspicion of collaborating with Israel, the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported Monday, according to The Jerusalem Post's sister publication Maariv.
The officer was suspected of releasing Lebanese detainees in exchange for large sums of money. Additional officers were also arrested on suspicion of membership in the officer's cell, Hezbollah-affiliated media reported. The officer is being held in Lebanon's Rihanyah prison.
Lebanese military intelligence first investigated the officer as part of a corruption case, according to the report. Once the investigation file was opened, it became clear that the officer, referred to by his initials "A.D." released detainees and even deleted the names of persons wanted for interrogation because of their alleged cooperation with Israel.
It was further reported that the officer was first interrogated and then released in order to follow his movements and gather additional evidence.
During the course of the investigation, a woman and four men, all of whom had ties with A.D., were also arrested. During interrogation, three of the detainees, who were all related, were released. However, A.D. and the two remaining detainees — a man and a woman — remain in custody.