Kidnapping for Ransom-25 kidnapping operations and the kidnappers nestled in the Beqa’a Valley
This phenomenon declined drastically after the war, only to pick up pace anew in the past three years, targeting not only the rich, but also the middle class individuals from different regions and sectarian backgrounds. There are even talks about kidnap-for-ransom networks aimed at all sects, regions and parties, and using the Beqa’a area as their base. Unconfirmed rumors suggest that a number of security officials are colluding with the kidnappers, or at best, overlooking their violation of the country’s stability, for personal gain. In some instances, the families of the kidnappers are advised to negotiate with the kidnappers directly to have the ransom reduced and solve the matter with minimal losses, both human and financial.
Lebanon has witnessed 25 kidnapping operations from the beginning of 2011 until the end of November 2013, most of which occurred in 2013. In most cases, ransom negotiations have yielded in the reduction of the requested sum of money. Although the return of the kidnapped thanks to political interference and pressure, without paying any ransom, has been a very rare occurrence, it has nevertheless clearly indicated that the kidnappers are known and identified by their name and region. This raises questions why the security forces are reluctant or unable to take action and only arrest the executors while the real instigators and criminal masterminds remain on the run. In this entire kidnapping saga, not killing the kidnapped was perhaps the only “positive” element.
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Major kidnapping-for-ransom operations |
Table 1 |
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Name, sect and profession of the hostage |
Kidnapping date |
Date of release |
Kidnapping area |
Alleged paid ransom |
Notes |
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Wissam Al-Khatib: Sunni Pharmacist |
29-9-2013 |
15-10-2013 |
In front of his pharmacy in Karak al-Maaallaqah, Beqa’a |
USD 500,000 |
Army Intelligence arrested the kidnappers later |
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Ali Ahmad Mansour: Sunni Venezuela-based businessman |
18-9-2012 |
24-9-2012 |
Ghazzi, Western Beqa’a |
Kidnappers demanded USD 16 million but could only obtain USD 600,000 |
It is said that the kidnapping gang is headed by Mashhour Saleh |
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Mona Kanj: Shia’a physician |
28-11-2012 |
30-11-2012 |
Near her house in Mechref, Chouf |
Kidnappers demanded USD 600,000 but could only obtain USD 200,000 |
The brother-in-law of the janitor guarding the building where Mona lives is said to have been involved in the kidnapping. |
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Ahmad Zaidan: Sunni businessman |
7-12-2011 |
11-12-2011 |
Near his Liban Lait factory in Housh Sneid, Beqa’a |
No ransom was paid |
Pressures exerted by Speaker Nabih Berri yielded his release without paying any ransom. |
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Mohammad Bassel El-Mays: Sunni farmer |
22-9-2012 |
24-9-2012 |
In front of his residence in the Beqa’a town of Makseh |
Kidnappers released him after realizing he was not wealthy |
He allegedly escaped from the Ain Dara Grotto where he was held. |
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Fouad Daoud: Greek Orthodox dealer in car parts |
13-9-2012 |
19-9-2012 |
In Baalbeck on his way to buy a car |
Kidnappers demanded USD 250,000 |
A Lebanese Army unit was able to set him free and arrest one of the kidnappers named Abbas Helou. |
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Youssef Bechara: Maronite businessman |
17-9-2012 |
18-9-2012 |
Near his residence in Bsalim, Matn |
USD 400,000 |
The Lebanese Army cracked down on the kidnappers in Chiyyah and was able to return USD 380,000 of the ransom. |
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Amer Naim Abou Chahine: Druze employee at the water filter plant, Eau Pure |
27-3-2013 |
31-3-2013 |
Douris, Beqa’a |
Kidnappers demanded USD 600,000 but did not receive a penny |
The Lebanese Army arrested a Jordanian man who had a hand in the kidnapping. |
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Najib Youssef: Shia’a businessman |
5-2-2013 |
11-2-2013 |
In front of his residence in the Abou el-Ousoud area of Tyre |
USD 140,000 |
He was released in Choueifat and two of his kidnappers were arrested later in the town of Chabriha near Tyre. |
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Mohammad Nibal Awada: Shia’a 12-year-old |
20-2-2013 |
24-2-2013 |
Ramlat Al-Bayda, BEirut |
USD 132,000 |
- |
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Ahmad Ali Sayyed Sakhr: Sunni expatriate |
17-5-2012 |
23-5-2012 |
In front of the Baaloul Mosque, Western Beqa’a |
Kidnappers demanded USD 100,000 but did not receive a penny |
The Army Intelligence arrested two suspects involved in the kidnapping. |
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Nazih Nassar: Greek Catholic owner of a carpentry factory |
1-2-2013 |
27-2-2013 |
On a subsidiary road between Terboul and Ferzoul |
Kidnappers demanded USD 2 million but were not paid the ransom according to what the kidnapped confirmed after his release |
- |
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Fadi Metri: Greek Orthodox owner of a car parts shop |
1-2-2013 |
3-2-2013 |
In front of his residence in Mansourieh |
USD 75,000 |
The kidnapping was allegedly rooted in financial disputes with the kidnappers. |
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Ibrahim Zein El-Atat: Shia’a citizen |
22-6-2012 |
30-6-2012 |
On the road to Sawfar |
Kidnappers demanded a USD 4 million ransom and allegedly received a half of it |
- |
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Bassam Taleeh Tarabay: Maronite businessman |
8-9-2012 |
20-9-2012 |
In front of his residence in Batroun |
Kidnappers demanded USD 4 million but were only paid USD 50,000 |
- |
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Houssam Chahadi Bsherrawi: Maronite student |
3-6-2012 |
4-6-2012 |
Ras Baalbeck |
Kidnappers demanded USD 2 million |
He was released with no disclosure of the sum paid in return. |
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Andre Elias Jerjes: Maronite citizen |
5-5-2012 |
11-5-2012 |
Meziara |
No ransom was paid |
The Lebanese Army played a role in securing the release. |
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Mohammad Fayez Loulou: Sunni, shop owner |
24-5-2013 |
26-6-2013 |
In front of his shop in Saadnayel |
No ransom was paid |
He was released thanks to the mediatory efforts of Speaker Nabih Berri |
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Khaled Adnan Ezzedine: Sunni gas station owner |
12-5-2012 |
14-5-2012 |
Nabi Othman, Beqa’a |
USD 400,000 |
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Hatem Badr Ali: Sunni citizen |
28-7-2012 |
30-7-2012 |
Douris, Beqa’a |
USD 50,000 |
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Kersy Keshishian: Lebanese citizen of Armenian origins |
14-9-2012 |
17-9-2012 |
Hamra |
Kidnappers demanded a USD 1 million ransom. The sum was not paid. |
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George Wadih and Tony Wadih Saadeh: Maronite citizens |
13-9-2012 |
18-9-2012 |
Baalbeck |
No ransom was paid |
The kidnapping was allegedly rooted in financial disputes with the kidnappers. |
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Fayez dib El-Osta: Sunni employee at the Ghazaleh Construction and Contracting Company |
6-9-2012 |
7-9-2012 |
Jdita |
Kidnappers mugged, then released him after realizing he was not the owner of the company |
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Mourshed Said Kayed: Sunni citizen |
22-2-2012 |
27-2-2012 |
Douris |
USD 50,000 |
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Ziad Khaled Abou Esber: Sunni citizen |
29-2-2012 |
4-3-2012 |
Baalbeck |
LBP 116 million |
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Source: Archives of Lebanese newspapers
Punishment for Kidnapping in Lebanon
The Lebanese Law defines the kidnapping act and indicates the punishment for this offence.
Article 569: He who deprives another person of their personal freedom through kidnapping or any other means shall be sentenced to temporary hard labor. The offender shall serve a lifetime of hard labor in the following cases:
- If the period of deprivation of freedom exceeds one month.
- If physical or moral harm is inflicted on the victim.
- If the offence occurs while the victim is performing their work duties or due to work-related reasons.
- If the motives behind the crime are sectarian, factional or vindictive, aimed at avenging a previous offense committed by the victim’s sectarian community, political party or relatives.
- If the offender takes the victim as a hostage for the purpose of intimidating individuals, entities or the state, embezzling money or coercing others to comply with orders and take or abstain from a certain action.
- If the offense occurs during an attack on a public or private transportation vehicle (car, train, boat, aircraft)
- If the offence is committed by at least two armed people.
According to Article 257, stricter punishment is enforced if the offense results in the death of a third person due to panic or any other incident-related reasons.
Article 570: If the kidnapped person is released within a maximum of three days without being subjected to any other crime, be it a felony or a misdemeanor, the offender shall be sentenced to 1 to 6 years in prison.
The sentence is reduced to half if the hostage is released within 24 hours.
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