Khaberni - Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri issued a statement about the case of "Fake Saudi Prince Abu Omar," which stirred significant controversy in the country due to its exposure of financially and politically motivated fraud carried out by the accused.
Hariri's media office stated in its declaration: "President Saad Hariri categorically denies, in detail and wholly, the contents of the report aired by 'Al Jadeed' channel regarding any communication or encounter, direct or indirect, with the so-called 'Abu Omar,' whether in Abu Dhabi as alleged, or any place else, or via any means of communication whatsoever."
The statement added: "President Hariri asserts that the report is entirely baseless and misleading, completely devoid of truth, and lacks the minimum standards of professionalism and accuracy, falling into the category of fabricating concocted information unrelated to reality."
It continued: "Additionally, the media office wishes to point out the dangers of this approach based on spreading lies and promoting rumors, and holds 'Al Jadeed' channel fully responsible for the repercussions of its broadcast, demanding a public apology and an immediate and clear correction as appropriate, and to stop involving President Hariri's name in delusion-driven defamation campaigns."
The office emphasized that it "retains all legal rights to pursue anyone behind these claims and participates in their dissemination or promotion, in front of the competent judicial authorities."
In related news, the Media Affairs Authority of the Future Movement issued a statement clarifying that 'Al Jadeed' channel aired in its evening news bulletin a report on the confessions of 'the alleged prince', based on 'special sources' and not on official investigation sources, including baseless allegations against the General Secretary of the movement, Ahmed Hariri, and a member of his office, Ziad Amin.
The statement confirmed that all the information about 'communication' and 'financial transfers' requested by 'the alleged prince' is entirely untrue and part of a framework of fabricated news aimed at misleading public opinion, and attempts by involved parties to cover up the facts by concocting false claims implicating the movement and its figures without any proof or evidence.
The Future Movement concluded by placing what was published under official investigation concerning 'the alleged prince' case, affirming its full right to take appropriate legal actions against the channel and all those promoting these allegations and claims.
This follows amid a major uproar caused by a man claiming to be a Saudi prince in Lebanon, where he defrauded several politicians by pretending to have influence and proximity to senior Saudi references.
According to Lebanese media, Sheikh Khaledoun Arimah promoted this fake prince, estimating his ability to influence political life in exchange for material benefits, which led to several deputies and politicians falling victim to promises of assuming ministerial and parliamentary positions.
Arimah took advantage of Riyadh's official distance from the Lebanese scene during a previous period, and the scarcity of direct communications, to visit political figures and claim their acceptance by the kingdom, then offering them connections with supposed Saudi officials. Upon the victim's agreement, he would present someone from his phone as "Saudi Prince Abu Omar," purportedly close to the Saudi Royal Court and capable of fulfilling their ambitions.
In fact, "Abu Omar" was a Lebanese from Akkar named Mustafa Al-Hassian, who worked as an auto body repairer and was fluent in the Gulf dialect.
In developments of this case, 'Al Jadeed' channel reported that "Sheikh Khalidoun Arimah was detained for investigation, along with Sheikh Khaled Al-Sabsabi in the file of the imaginary prince, as well as two other citizens detained."
Al Jadeed reported that "the list of those to be summoned is long, at the top of which is Deputy Mohammed Suleiman," and "it is expected to hear statements from the former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and others."
The investigation into Arimah covered two aspects, the first financial and the second political," highlighting that "Arimah initially tried to deny responsibility in the case of the imaginary prince, raising accusations against himself and laying them at the feet of Sheikh Al-Sabsabi."
