The Daily Star - LF’s court case against Pierre Daher dismissed, March 2, 2012

BEIRUT: The Beirut Prosecutor’s office Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit by the Lebanese Forces against Pierre Daher, chairman of the Lebanese Broadcasting Cooperation International, saying that the statute of limitations in the case had run out. In 2007, the LF filed a lawsuit against Daher regarding an ownership dispute over the Lebanese television channel, which was established by the party during the Civil War. A judge issued an indictment against Daher on Oct. 14, 2010, calling for his arrest for fraud and embezzlement. Daher appealed the decision the next day. Daher has said that LF leader Samir Geagea “forgot” he sold him LBC in 1992 for $5 million after the LF’s relationship with state authorities had begun to deteriorate, ruling out the possibility of the LF obtaining a license to operate a television station. The decision cited the fact that the statute of limitations had passed, apparently due to the transfer of the station in the early 1990s from LF control. The LF has said that the ownership of the television station should have reverted to Geagea after his release from prison in 2005. Daher contested these claims, saying LBC flourished thanks to efforts outside the LF. The dispute has had repercussions in various fields. For instance, LBC called off a scheduled interview with Geagea in 2007 and laid off 60 employees in 2010, supposedly for their alleged affiliation with the LF. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Mar-02/165240-lfs-court-case-against-pierre-daher-dismissed.ashx#axzz1nr6UypeJ