State Prosecutor Samir Hammoud Thursday charged Tarek al-Mallah and three other activists with contempt and defamation in a case linked to an attack against Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas’ car during an anti-trash demonstration earlier this week, a judicial source told The Daily Star.
The source said that Mallah and Firas Bou Zeineddine, both of whom were in custody, were referred by Hammoud to State Prosecutor for Appeals Judge Ziad Abu Haidar. Activists Ihab Yazbek and Bilal Allaw were released but will still be tried, though on lesser charges “since they were not involved in insulting the minister or attacking his vehicle,” the source said.
A fifth person, whose name was not revealed, was released because he was not linked to the incident, the source added.
The five suspects were referred to Hammoud after the Internal Security Force’s Information Branch wrapped up investigations with them.
Derbas denied earlier Thursday in remarks to reporters ahead of a Cabinet session at the Grand Serail that he pressed charges against Mallah or any other activist.
"I did not file a lawsuit against Tarek al-Mallah," he said. “Let justice take its course... If he (Mallah) was released I will not be annoyed.”
Mallah and four others were arrested Tuesday by the ISF hours after they allegedly attacked Derbas’ vehicle near the Interior Ministry on Spears Street in Hamra.
After the incident, Derbas expressed his intention to press charges against Mallah but did not proceed to do so since the Public Prosecution took action and handled the case.
Derbas said that around 15 protesters had attacked his car but he recognized Mallah since the latter had accused Derbas earlier this month of overlooking cases of alleged sexual abuse at the Dar al-Aytam orphanage.
Mallah was raised in the Dar al-Aytam orphanage for some 13 years, during which he alleged that he had been raped. Earlier this month, he accused the Social Affairs Ministry of overlooking cases of alleged sexual abuse at the orphanage and said he has filed lawsuits against them.
