Lebanese police chief held over false spying claims
Govt criticized for mishandling Itani’s case
BEIRUT: A famous Lebanese comedian has been cleared of spying for Israel in an extraordinary case that has gripped Beirut and led to the downfall of a prominent police chief.
Ziad Itani, who is also a leading actor and playwright, was indicted in November for allegedly collecting information about politicians on behalf of the Jewish state.
But on Friday a judge ordered the arrest of Maj. Suzan El-Hajj Hobeiche, the former director of the cybercrimes bureau, on charges that she framed Itani as part of a personal vendetta arising from a Twitter feud.
Politicians and Lebanese media reacted with disbelief to the latest developments, lambasting the government for causing a “security scandal” and mishandling the entire case.
Hobeiche, who is often referred to as “Lebanon’s most powerful woman,” is accused of using a hacker to create fake social media accounts that suggested Itani was collaborating with an Israeli female agent.
The police chief is believed to have acted out of revenge following her sacking from the cybercrimes bureau last October. Hobeiche was dismissed soon after “liking” a Twitter post shared by television producer Charbel Khalil, which mocked a decree by the Saudi government that granted women the right to drive.
“The news that women will be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia was incomplete,” Khalil wrote. “Women will be allowed to drive the car only if it is rigged (with explosives).”
Hobeiche quickly removed her “like,” but it was too late. She had reportedly taken a screenshot and circulated the post elsewhere. The assistant state commissioner to the military court, Judge Hani Al-Hajjar, said Hobeiche believed this played a part in her dismissal.