Hearing scheduled for Wednesday did not happen

BEIRUT — A hearing in the “Abu Omar” case scheduled for Wednesday was postponed after businessman Ahmad Haddara failed to appear to give testimony before First Investigative Judge Roula Osman.

Haddara had brought the case to light by filing a complaint with the Court of Cassation in December. He claims to have been the victim of a scam in which the perpetrator, mechanic Moustapha Hessian, also known as Abu Omar, allegedly impersonated a Saudi prince, apparently to extract money from political figures and businessmen by making them believe that the Wahhabi kingdom would support their public activities in exchange for payments.

In addition to Hessian, a Sunni sheikh, Khaldoun Oraymet, is also under arrest. He is suspected of having played a key role in facilitating contacts between Abu Omar and his victims.

One of the sheikh’s sons, Mohammad, is also involved in this case. Subject to an arrest warrant, he is currently on the run. Haddara accuses him of extorting money and successfully obtaining a car as a gift.

The reason for Haddara’s absence remains unclear. Judge Osman has not yet scheduled a new hearing, as she has referred procedural objections filed by attorney Merhef Oraymet — on behalf of his brother Mohammad —to the Court of Cassation. A new session date is expected to be set after she receives the public prosecutor’s opinion on the request.