A former commander of PLO's mainstream 'Fateh' faction was released by Lebanese authorities on Wednesday after being acquitted of charges stemming from a pair of murder-kidnappings, reported the Daily Star newspaper.
In 1995, the Criminal Court of South Lebanon sentenced Khaled Shayeb to death after convicting him of the 1988 kidnapping and murder of Mahmoud Dimasi and Baria Halabi, and the murder of Kamal Shayeb in Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, said the paper.
Shayeb was also convicted of kidnapping Jihad Ashqar and another man from Ain al-Hilweh's Nasser family in 1991.
However, according to law, any person tried in absentia is entitled to re-trial if he surrenders or is caught.
In November 1999, Shayeb was apprehended in Sidon along with Khaled Aref, Secretary General of Fatah and the PLO.
After his arrest, Shayeb, 38, was detained in Roumieh prison.
He was later transferred to Tripoli following the mass detention of former South Lebanon Army militiamen in Roumieh. Beirut Criminal Court subsequently acquitted Shayeb of all charges. Shayeb received an enthusiastic welcome from dozens of Palestinian refugees waiting for his return in Ain al-Hilweh, added the paper - Albawaba.com
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
