BEIRUT: A young man who claimed that he was assaulted because of his sect confessed that he fabricated the news in order to receive free heath care from the Health Ministry, the Lebanese Army said in a statement Wednesday.

The Army said that it summoned Ihab al-Azzi for investigation after he claimed to media outlets that a man cut off the fingers of his left hand with a sword Sunday after identifying him a Shiite in the Beirut neighborhood of Tariq al-Jdideh.

“He confessed that he suffered wounds on his hand after the motorcycle he was riding on the airport highway collided with two other motorcycles,” the statement read. It added that Azzi then had a fight with the riders when one of them stabbed him with a spear.

Azzi fabricated the news in order to receive free health care, the statement added. He will be referred to the relevant judiciary. Protesters blocked roads in Tariq al-Jdideh Sunday in protest of the assassination of Brig. General Wissam al-Hasan.