BEIRUT –Lebanon’s President Michel Suleiman wrote a message of sympathy to web developer Jean Assy, who was sentenced to two months in jail for slandering him on Twitter. NOW investigated the possible effects of the head of state’s comments on Assy’s sentence.
NOW asked a former public prosecutor, Judge Hatem Madi, whether the president’s “forgiveness” would annul the web developer’s sentence. But Madi said that despite the sentiments expressed by Suleiman, this would be unlikely to happen.
“The president’s letter to Assy does not prevent the execution of the sentence; it is only a form of [personal] forgiveness from the person in question,” Madi said.
He added, however, that this letter might spare the web developer from jail time if the verdict makes a special dispensation for the president’s forgiveness.
"[But] I haven’t seen the case files so I cannot provide an accurate answer.”
Assy was sentenced by a Lebanese judge last week for “defamation and libel” of the president in a series of posts he made on Twitter.
However, Assy sent the president an apology letter Wednesday, to which Suleiman replied forgivingly.
https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/lebanonnews/536150-will-suleimans-forgiveness-spare-assy-jail-time
