Khaberni - Lebanese star Fadel Shaker surrendered himself on Saturday evening to Lebanese Army Intelligence at the entrance of Ein el-Hilweh camp in Sidon, after a series of communications and mediations that gathered the army and the relevant authorities to set a date for his appearance before the competent court, under direct supervision from the security services.
The Lebanese Army Command confirmed in an official statement that the investigation with Shaker has already begun, in preparation for his public trial in the upcoming phase. This report reviews the complete story of Shaker's surrender, alongside the most prominent charges and judgments issued against him since the outbreak of the Abra crisis up to this moment.
The background of the charges dates back to June 2013, when Shaker participated in violent armed clashes in the Abra area in Sidon between the Lebanese army and supporters of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, resulting in the deaths of 18 Lebanese soldiers and several of al-Assir's supporters, in addition to extensive damage in the area that lasted for two full days. The Lebanese authorities placed the participants in the events on the wanted list for the judiciary, while Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir was arrested in 2015 and was sentenced to death.
In the aftermath of the clashes, several criminal and security charges were directed at Fadel Shaker, including participation in an armed group, financing and arming groups outside the law, incitement to sectarian and denominational violence, incitement against the Lebanese army in media interviews, and assisting in the logistical support of Sheikh al-Assir's supporters, in addition to fleeing justice and hiding for years.
The Lebanese military court issued several judgments in absentia against him, starting in 2016 with a five-year prison sentence and a fine of 500,000 Lebanese pounds, due to television statements considered offensive to a sister state and stirring up sedition and tarnishing the reputation of the military institution. In 2017, a second judgment in absentia sentenced him to 15 years in prison with hard labor, stripping him of his civil rights and confiscating his properties.
In 2018, he was acquitted of the charge of direct combat against the army after it was proven that he did not participate physically, but he remained convicted of charges of supporting and financing an armed group and incitement. In 2022, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison with hard labor.
With Shaker's surrender to the Lebanese army, he is currently facing the reopening of the files of the judgments in absentia issued against him, and retrial in person before the military court, with the possibility of reducing the penalties if his direct involvement in combat is not proven.
