Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea (center) and party officials receive Elias Hasrouni's relatives in Meerab on Aug. 25, 2023. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea announced on Friday that his party would file a civil suit against anyone implicated in the suspected murder of Elias Hasrouni, a former LF official found dead in suspicious circumstances in early August in Ain Ibl in southern Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.
"Like all LF members, we categorically refuse to allow the investigation to be diluted, and the party will file a civil suit against whoever the investigation finds [to have been] inciting, facilitating and implicated in this crime," said Geagea, who, alongside four party officials, was receiving the family of the deceased at the LF headquarters in Meerab.
On Aug. 2, Hasrouni disappeared in Ain Ibl, in the Bint Jbeil district. On Aug. 9, Lebanese police announced that he had been found dead and opened an investigation into the matter. Five days later, Geagea pointed his finger at Hezbollah, saying, "We are waiting for the security services' investigations but according to the available information, the suspicions indicate the involvement of Hezbollah."
Hasrouni's relatives were received Wednesday by caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi, who promised that "the investigation will be completed." They also met with the army's commander-in-chief, Gen. Joseph Aoun.