BEIRUT — On Monday, the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation, Jamal Hajjar, continued questioning in the case known as “Abu Omar.”
The case involves a mechanic from Akkar, Moustapha Hessian, who allegedly impersonated a senior Saudi representative under the pseudonym “Abu Omar.”
He reportedly told Lebanese politicians they could receive Riyadh’s support for their campaigns, candidacies, and activities in exchange for payments.
Hajjar heard testimonies from Attieh and Kheir, both members of the National Moderation bloc and respectively MPs for Akkar and Minieh-Dennieh. Their hearings follow that of their colleague Mohammad Sleiman, also from the same bloc, who testified as a witness last Friday.
During Sleiman’s session, he acknowledged receiving a call in January 2025, just before the designation of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, from someone claiming to be close to the Saudi royal court, asking him to appoint Salam as Prime Minister.
Sleiman emphasized, however, that “Abu Omar or anyone else had no role or influence in the appointment of Salam, which resulted from a conviction to choose a Prime Minister in harmony with the President of the Republic to implement the oath speech, in the national interest of restoring Arab and international confidence.”
According to sources, Attieh confirmed Sleiman’s statements. He said that on Jan. 12, 2025, the day before the Prime Minister was named, Sleiman had been contacted by a man “with a Saudi accent” who asked, on behalf of Saudi Arabia, not to choose former Prime Minister Najib Mikati during parliamentary consultations, calling him “corrupt.”
A source close to the case, speaking anonymously, suggested this claim may be linked to Sheikh Khaldoun Oraymet, who is implicated in the case and currently in custody, and who reportedly does not have good relations with Mikati.
Attieh also told Judge Hajjar that Abu Omar’s call to Sleiman was “superfluous,” as the National Moderation bloc had already decided to support Salam, who also enjoyed the backing of the parliamentary majority, including the Lebanese Forces, Free Patriotic Movement, Progressive Socialist Party, and others.
Clarifying ambiguities
Kheir, in a statement following his testimony, said he had told Judge Hajjar about the divisions within the bloc regarding the Prime Minister’s appointment, before “the balance” tipped in favor of Nawaf Salam.
He added that in this context, “Mohammad Sleiman received a call from Abu Omar, presented as a prince of the Saudi royal cabinet, containing indirect instructions not to appoint Mikati.” According to Kheir, this led to a “quasi-consensus” within the bloc to appoint Salam.
Kheir also explained that the call raised doubts for him, prompting him to contact several times the Saudi ambassador to Beirut, Walid Boukhari, to report the call and “clarify the authenticity of the instructions received.”
He emphasized that his actions aimed to remove “any ambiguity” and stressed that he maintains “constant and direct contact with official channels of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia … in response to attempts at defamation and media accusations” against him.
Earlier, on Dec. 31, the judge had heard Fouad Makhzoumi, MP for Beirut, who denied any payments to Abu Omar, stating that his relations with Sunni sheikhs were limited to managing a medical fund he had established. On the same day, the former minister Mohammad Choucair also testified as a witness.
Another Sunni sheikh from Akkar, Khaled Sabsabi, was also interrogated on Dec. 31 by the military intelligence branch. He was released under the condition of appearing again for further investigation.
