Conflict Incident Report

An indictment commission Tuesday ratified an arrest warrant issued last week against a man related to a major hacking operation that involved Lebanese banks and government institutions, including security agencies.

According to a judicial source, Investigative Judge Asaad Bayram issued an arrest warrant against Khalil Sehnaoui for hacking official and security websites. Sehnaoui was reportedly involved in a major hacking operation that was made public last month following media reports.

After Bayram’s decision, Sehnaoui’s lawyer unsuccessfully appealed the arrest, the source said.

“He is now officially arrested,” the source noted, saying that he is currently held at the Justice Palace in Beirut. The source added that the case would again return to Bayram’s custody. “He will continue the investigations with [Sehnaoui], listen to witnesses and ask to speak with people before issuing his indictment in the case,” the source said.