Former Sydney man Omar al-Hadba faces the death penalty in Lebanon after prosecutors sent his case to the nation's highest court, accusing him of playing a key role in a 13-week-long al-Qaeda revolt. The case against Mr Hadba, arrested in early July along with four other Australians, has been transferred to the Council of Justice, which deals with crimes against the state. He is expected to be charged with either treason or sedition, both of which carry the death sentence.| The case against Mr Hadba, arrested in early July along with four other Australians, has been transferred to the Council of Justice, which deals with crimes against the state. He is expected to be charged with either treason or sedition, both of which carry the death sentence. |
In the operation to arrest the Australians, the army seized about 500kg of weapons from Mr Hadba's workshop in Tripoli. The swoop netted two other Australians, who are also under arrest, former Sydney financial planner Ibrahim Sabbough and Sydney businessman Hussein Elomar. Two further Australians - Mr Elomar's Australian boxing champion nephew, Ahmed Elomar, and Mohammed Bassel - were freed without charge after being detained for more than a week.
The Council of Justice is also expected to hear the cases of Mr Sabbough and Mr Elomar, but the investigating judge in the case and military intelligence officers are known to view Mr Hadba as a more significant security threat. Army officers say enough weapons were found in his workshop to supply almost a company of regular soldiers.
| Mr Hadba, who drove a taxi in Tripoli, has been repeatedly pressed about the origin of the weapons, which include Kalashnikov and M-16 assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, mines, sniper rifles, machine guns and hand grenades. However, Lebanese authorities have been unsatisfied with the answers he has given them. |
Fatah al-Islam has said it aims to overthrow the Government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and to help introduce an Islamic caliphate across the Arab world. Identity papers found on fighters captured or killed during the campaign reveal the insurgency has been fuelled by men from across Arabia and Europe, with at least one Danish national under arrest.
Rogue elements of Syria's intelligence apparatus are suspected of facilitating the fighting, with a view to toppling the Siniora Government and reasserting Syrian hegemony in Lebanon. The Syrian army was forced to pull out of Lebanon more than two years ago in the furor following the assassination on the Beirut waterfront of former prime minister Rafik Hariri. Syria continually denies any involvement in the murder.
Australian authorities are yet to be given access to the three detained nationals. However, Australian Federal Police and ASIO officers are closely monitoring developments. The Australian embassy has repeatedly warned Lebanese military intelligence chiefs not to torture Australians to gain confessions. After his release, Ahmed Elomar displayed bruises and abrasions on his torso, which he said were caused by torture during his interrogation.