BEIRUT: Abdel-Latif Fneish, Hezbollah Minister Mohammad Fneish’s brother, turned himself over to authorities Friday on a warrant issued by a judge over a recent pharmaceutical drug scandal.

Judicial sources told The Daily Star that Abdel-Latif Fneish was kept in temporary detention at the Justice Palace in Baabda, north of Beirut, pending his transfer to Roumieh prison.

Fneish was charged after being interrogated by Mount Lebanon Investigative Judge Jean Fernini, the sources added.

Fernini charged Fneish with importing drugs, “contrary to specifications and forging register records with the purpose of making money.”

The case was brought to light last November after a lawmaker from the Future Movement claimed that over 100 types of drugs had been illegally imported into the country with forged stamps, health minister signatures and Beirut Arab University laboratory tests.

Beirut MP Atef Majdalani, the chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, hailed Fernaini’s decision but criticized the delay and vowed to follow up on the case to the very end.

“This decision should have been made about two months ago when the arrest warrant was issued,” the MP said, according to the Central News Agency.

“We thank the judiciary and we support its actions to uncover the truth and justice that will lead to holding the perpetrators of this flagrant crime accountable,” Majdalani added.