Bassam al-Sheikh Hussein holds a press conference Thursday after his release for holding Federal Bank employees hostage demanding access to his money. (Credit: Courtesy of Legal Agenda)
BEIRUT — The Cry of Depositors Association held a press conference Thursday, where depositor Bassam al-Sheikh Hussein, who took Federal Bank employees hostage in Hamra to get his blocked money, revealed that he will start negotiations with the Federal Bank to request the recovery of the remainder of his deposit, which is valued at $137,000.
Here’s what we know:
• Hussein said that the bank failed for months to give him the amount of $400 per month according to Banque du Liban Circular No. 158, so on Aug. 11, he went to the bank to try again, but the manager refused to give him the amount.
• Hussein stated that on that day, the bank manager insulted him so he went to his car, brought a gun and gasoline, entered the bank, told depositors who were at the bank to leave, and closed the entrance, keeping a number of employees hostage.
• Hussein stated that he did not attack any employee during the detention process and that he was negotiating through the Ministry of Interior until he got the $35,000.
• Public Prosecutor Ghassan Ouiedat, issued a decision last Tuesday to leave Hussein free without any claim or signing a pledge.