BEIRUT: Lebanon's military tribunal sentenced a Lebanese merchant to death Monday on espionage charges, including assisting the Israeli Army. 

Bassam Abu Jawdeh was convicted of spying for the Israeli intelligence and assisting the Israeli Army to defeat the Lebanese Army by providing them with information.

Military Investigative Judge Fadi Swan requested the death penalty for Abu Jawdeh, pursuant to article 274 of the penal code, which stipulates that the death penalty can be imposed if a spy’s activity has led to loss of Lebanese life, and articles 278 and 275. 

Under Lebanese law, the death penalty requires the approval of the president, prime minister and justice minister. 

In January, the military court also requested the death penalty against six Lebanese on charges of collaborating with Israel, indirectly leading to the deaths of several resistance fighters.

Since launching a crackdown against suspected intelligence agents in 2007, the Lebanese Army has rounded up over 150 individuals, including high-ranking military officials and telecommunications staff suspected of spying for Israel.

Former Gen. Fayez Karam, a senior member of the Free Patriotic Movement, is the most recent high profile case of a senior official convicted of collaborating with Israel. Karam faces the prospect of being jailed for three to 15 years with hard labor, under Article 278 of the penal code. 

Col. Antoine Abu Jaoude is also currently standing trial for collaborating with Israel, and providing Mossad with names and addresses of Lebanese Army and Hezbollah officials, in an attempt to aid the Israelis in any potential future invasion of Lebanon.

If Abu Jaoude is found guilty, he could faces the death penalty on charges of treason.