Man accused of espionage in Ansar disowned by family and municipality

The family of a man suspected of spying for Israel, along with the municipality of his home village of Ansar (Nabatieh district), issued separate statements distancing themselves from him following the allegations.

Security agencies arrested the suspect, identified as A.M., earlier in February after placing him under surveillance for a period of time, security sources told L’Orient Today’s correspondent in the South. Authorities later raided his home, where alleged espionage equipment was reportedly found, the same sources said.

In a statement, the suspect’s family said that “after the allegations were confirmed by investigations conducted by the competent security agencies, and the file was referred to the competent judiciary for the crime of collaborating with the enemy — which constitutes a serious and reprehensible act in every sense — we declare our complete and total disassociation from A.M., and strongly condemn his disgraceful actions that harm his town and his country.”

They added, “We call on the competent judiciary to impose the harshest penalties against him,” and announced that they would join the case as private plaintiffs and follow proceedings through to a final verdict.

The Ansar municipality also said it is closely following the case and affirmed that it “categorically rejects any form of contact or dealings with the Israeli enemy under any circumstances,” stressing that the actions attributed to the suspect “represent only himself and do not reflect the residents of the town, its honorable families or its national history.”

The municipality called for the matter to be left to the competent Lebanese judiciary, describing it as the sole authority empowered to issue rulings and determine responsibility in accordance with the law. It also expressed “appreciation for the family’s statement.”

In October, Lebanese authorities arrested 32 people found guilty or suspected of passing information to Israel aimed at targeting Hezbollah leaders, AFP reported citing a judicial source.

Reporting contributed by Muntasser Abdallah, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the south reported.