An incident that took place on 11 August in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, created a big agenda in the country. Bassam al-Sheikh Hussein, 42, came to the Federal Bank branch in the Hamra district and wanted to withdraw about $200,000 from his bank account for his father’s medical expenses. The person who received a negative response to this request took a total of 6 people hostage, 5 of which were bank employees. There was a new development in the incident that confused the country.
RELEASED
It was reported that Hussein, who surrendered to the security forces after accepting the payment of 35 thousand dollars of his money in the bank after the hostage crisis that lasted for hours, was released after the bank withdrew its complaint.
MAY BE CHARGED BY THE PROSECUTORS IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS
In the news in the Lebanese press, it was stated that Judge Ghassan Khoury, who was handling the case, decided to release Hussein after the Federal Bank representative informed prosecutors that the bank wanted to withdraw its complaint against Hussein.
It was reported that Hussein’s case will be handed over to an investigating judge and that the possibility of prosecution is still open. Hussein may be indicted by prosecutors in the coming days.
“Right now he is sitting with his family and relaxing a bit. There are no charges against him and he is a free man,” Hussein’s older brother told the press. Hussein’s lawyer, Rami Ollaik, confirmed that he received $35,000 from the bank he agreed to in exchange for ending the hostage situation.
“YOU ARE A HERO” SLOGAN WAS POSTED
It was stated that when Hussein’s request to withdraw money was refused by the bank employee, his relatives started shouting that he was in the hospital and then pulled out his gun. The attacker’s brother, Atef al-Sheikh Hussein, who was at the scene, told the media that his brother wanted to withdraw money to cover his father’s medical expenses and other needs.
Hussein, who was taken out of the bank by the security forces after he accepted to surrender, waved to the crowd gathered outside during the incident, while the crowd gathered in front of the bank chanted “Down with the management of the banks” and “Bassam, you are a hero”. (UAV)