Conflict Incident Report

Tripoli police arrested a number of Lebanese, Iraqi and Turkish nationals in connection with a real estate fraud network that was using counterfeit checks and creating forged documents for properties in Kesrouan, the Internal Security Forces reported Thursday.
Four Lebanese nationals - identified as M.S., born in 1985; S.H., born in 1983; J.N., born in 1975; and Sh.L., born in 1957 - were arrested last week in Tripoli and the Kesrouan towns of Tabarja and Jounieh.
The suspects allegedly admitted to establishing a fraudulent real estate agency and distributing forged agency contracts - typically signed by the owner of a property to delegate to a second party the right to buy or sell the property.
J.N. additionally admitted to providing real estate information about properties in the Kesrouan town of Sarba to the agency in order to produce the forged documents, a security source told The Daily Star.
The ISF statement said police also raided the home of another Lebanese suspect, identified as M.H.. Police seized a “large number” of forged documents and agency contracts but did not arrest the man.
One Turkish suspect, identified as I.I., born in 1979, and two Iraqi suspects, identified as Kh.A., born in 1963 and M.J., born in 1969, were arrested upon their arrival to Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport after being accused of involvement in one of the sales. A forged check worth $4,500 was also found with I.I.
During investigations, M.J. said he had visited Lebanon to buy cars and move them from Beirut to Turkey.
According to the suspects’ confessions, the foreign nationals are connected to the local network through suspect S.H., the statement said.
S.H. admitted to cooperating with Iraqi and Turkish nationals to purchase properties in Jounieh.
Investigations are ongoing under judicial supervision, and the police are on the lookout for remaining suspects.