BEIRUT: The judiciary issued a ruling over the weekend banning an unidentified Lebanese newspaper from publishing news related to the trial of retired Gen. Fayez Karam, a member of the Free Patriotic Movement suspected of being an Israeli collaborator.

Judge Zalfa al-Hasan issued Saturday ruling number 719 which prohibits the Lebanese daily from publishing news on court proceedings, investigations and material related to the case of Karam, who is being tried by the Military Tribunal. Breaches by the daily would hold fines of LL50 million ($33,333) per news item.

Karam’s defense team of Elias Kaadi, Sandrella Merhej and Rashad Salameh requested a written ruling banning the reporting on the case of their client. Karam’s team argued that copies of material related to the court not signed off by the head of the tribunal be deemed as stolen material. They also touched on the negative effect that the news reports, both print and electronic, had on their client and at the level of public opinion.

Karam, 62, headed the Lebanese Army’s anti-terrorism and counter-espionage unit during the 1980s and was close to FPM leader Michel Aoun, who was army chief toward the end of the civil war.

Karam was indicted in December 2010 for collaborating by the military court for collaborating with Israel. He was charged with providing Israel with classified information that undermined the Lebanese state’s interests and authority.