Former State Security chief Tony Saliba, in front of former President of the Republic Michel Aoun. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — The Lebanese Court of Cassation recently ruled that the military tribunal has jurisdiction to examine a complaint filed in March 2025 against former State Security Director-General Tony Saliba over allegations of “waste of public funds, illicit enrichment and influence peddling.”
Proceedings against the former security chief were initiated in October 2025 by the financial prosecutor’s office following a judicial complaint filed by three activist lawyers — Ali Abbas, Wassef Harakeh and Jad Tohmeh — and a retired army general, Sami Rammah. Their filing cited “the assignment of hundreds of State Security agents and the provision of hundreds of vehicles to party leaders, former ministers and MPs, current MPs, businessmen and socialites,” as well as the “fuel and maintenance expenses” incurred as a result of this arrangement.
The head of the financial prosecutor’s office, Maher Sheaito, then transferred the file to Beirut Investigative Judge Hassan Hamdan, who summoned Saliba. However, Saliba did not appear, citing medical reasons. At a later hearing, he raised procedural objections, challenging the jurisdiction of the civil courts on the grounds of his former military status. The Beirut Indictment Chamber, presided over by Kamal Nassar, examined the case and concluded that the civil courts had jurisdiction. Saliba then appealed to the Court of Cassation, which overturned the Indictment Chamber’s decision and ruled that the military judiciary had jurisdiction to examine the case.
'Dodging the case'
Contacted by L’Orient-Le Jour, attorney Ali Abbas said the Court of Cassation should now transfer the file to the public prosecutor's office at the Court of Cassation, which will in turn send it to the government commissioner before the military tribunal, Claude Ghanem. He described the court’s decision as "dubious," asserting that it is "a way to dodge the case and avoid establishing responsibility." Transferring the file to the military tribunal would allow Tony Saliba to "protect himself," said the lawyer, arguing that "his former status as a senior officer allowed him to form strong relationships in those circles," which, according to him, could give him "a more favorable environment before the military judiciary." Furthermore, he added, "it will be an officer, not a judge from the regular judiciary, who will rule on the case."
Abbas also disputed the basis of the Court of Cassation’s decision, according to which the alleged acts committed by Saliba fall under his status as a military officer. He pointed out that "Saliba has not held that status since April 2022," when he retired before being immediately appointed director-general of State Security as a civilian by former president Michel Aoun. According to Abbas, the complaint he co-authored relates to "acts committed during the period when Tony Saliba was serving as a civilian official and not a military officer."
From 2022 to March 2025, Tony Saliba indeed continued to lead State Security as a civilian. At the end of that period, his successor, Edgard Lawandos, took over the institution, and Saliba was placed at the disposal of the Office of the Prime Minister. However, he did not take up his new duties, which Prime Minister Nawaf Salam deemed as a resignation. At Salam’s request, the Cabinet agreed during a meeting last August that Saliba was considered to have resigned.
