According to media sources, the President of the Military Court is expected to announce in the coming days the date for the first trial session for Fadel Shaker regarding the charges against him, which is likely to begin at the start of next week. This comes after reviewing the files related to the cases he is accused of and examining his statements before the Lebanese Army Intelligence, particularly the absentia rulings issued against him, which were legally nullified after he voluntarily surrendered to the Army Intelligence on October 4, aiming to resolve his legal and judicial status.

Charges against Fadel Shaker

The charges Shaker will face relate to his alleged involvement in the killing and confrontation with the Lebanese Army during the Abra battle in 2013, from which the Military Court had acquitted him in 2018, in addition to charges of joining and funding an armed group, insulting a sister state, and money laundering—absentia rulings for which had sentenced him to 22 years in prison in 2020.

Since the previous rulings were issued in absentia, they were legally nullified upon his surrender, meaning he will be retried on all these charges. It is expected that the new rulings will not be issued in a single session due to the importance of the case and the number of witnesses. The new rulings will be subject to appeal and review by the Military Public Prosecution, while Shaker has the right to appeal any ruling that is not in his favor.

Additionally, the Military Court may release him at any stage of the trial, and such release can be appealed before the Military Court of Cassation, which oversees criminal cases.