Lebanon's Police Intelligence Bureau detained on Wednesday Retired Col. Fayez Wajih Karam, a senior member of the Free Patriotic Movement, on suspicion of spying for Israel. His arrest comes as a shock to many Lebanese because his high media profle. In the Free Patriotic Movement, he was known as the official responsible for north Lebanon. He was a candidate in the recent parliamentary elections, but failed to win a seat in the north despite winning 19700 votes.
Karam, 62, graduated from the military school in 1972 as lieutenant. He held several leadership positions in the army, including head of the counter-terror and spying bureau.
According to AFP, Karam left the army after FPM leader Michel Aoun went into exile in France. He returned with Aoun to Lebanon in 2005 when Syria withdrew its troops after a 29-year hegemony.
Karam was born in Zgharta in 1948. His father Wajih Karam was also a senior officer in the Lebanese army.
