Daily Star - Two Newspapers Fined For Press Violations

BEIRUT: The press court headed by Magistrate Roukoz Rizk issued on Monday four decisions regarding press crimes.
Ibrahim al-Amine, head of Al-Akhbar board of directors, and its responsible director Nader Sabbagh were acquitted in the lawsuit filed by former Justice Minister Charles Rizk. Rizk had accused Al-Akhbar of slander libel and false information.
Concerning a lawsuit filed by former MP Fares Soueid against Al-Akhbar over false information and slander, a fine of LL6,000,000 was imposed on the paper’s responsible director Sabbagh and the paper was ordered to publish the verdict in the same spot where the article on Soueid was run.
Meanwhile, A fine of LL5,000,000 was imposed on Mazen Faisal al-Sammak, editor in chief of Al-Risala Al-Islamiyya newspaper, over allegations of slander and libel lodged by former MP Adnan Arakji, who filed a lawsuit against Sammak.
A LL1,000,000 fine was also imposed on the newspaper to cover personal compensation and it was ordered to publish the verdict in its first issue following the decision.
An arrest warrant for journalist Fatima Hoohoo was suspended after Arakji filed a lawsuit against Omar Khattab, the responsible director of Al-Mustaqbal newspaper and journalist Houhou alleging it had committed slander, libel and ruining reputation. – The Daily Star