An investigative judge in Beirut has issued judicial arrest warrants for a Lebanese man who posed for years as a powerful Saudi royal intermediary and for a Sunni cleric accused of facilitating his access to politicians and businessmen, escalating one of the most embarrassing political scandals in Lebanon in recent years.
Judge Roula Osman on Tuesday ordered the arrest of Mustafa al-Hessian, also known as "Abu Omar", a plumber from the northern Akkar region who allegedly impersonated a Saudi prince, and Sheikh Khaldoun Oraymet, a prominent Sunni religious figure suspected of acting as a key broker between al-Hessian and Lebanon's political class.
The decision followed hours of separate interrogations and a face-to-face confrontation between the two men, during which they gave sharply contradictory accounts of how the scheme operated, according to Lebanese media.
The case, which has shaken Sunni political and religious circles in Lebanon, was referred last week to the investigative judge by Beirut's public prosecutor, Raja Hamoush, after charges were filed against the suspects.
Both men were detained in December as part of a preliminary investigation by Lebanese army intelligence, following a complaint filed by a businessman who said he had been defrauded. The judge's warrant allows a formal investigation into the men's activities to proceed.
Contradictory testimonies
During questioning, al-Hessian reportedly told the judge that Oraymet had contacted and directed him, exploiting his ability to speak with a Saudi accent in order to present him as a royal insider capable of delivering Riyadh's backing to politicians and businessmen.
Oraymet, by contrast, told investigators that al-Hessian had approached him independently, convincing him that he was a Saudi prince with close ties to the royal court.
Both defence teams have requested time to submit written arguments, with al-Hessian's lawyer expected to ask the court to summon a long list of political figures as witnesses, including MPs and former ministers who were previously questioned by prosecutors about their interactions with the fake prince.
These include ex-ministers Michel Pharaon and Mohammad Choucair, as well as MPs Nabil Badr and Ghassan Hasbani, according to Lebanese media. All those named have denied paying money in exchange for Saudi political support.
A phone-based con
According to extensive reporting by Lebanese media, the scheme dates back to at least the mid-2010s and relied almost entirely on phone calls.
Al-Hessian allegedly used multiple Saudi and foreign phone numbers and a polished Gulf accent to convince senior figures that he was a discreet but influential channel to decision makers in Riyadh.
Oraymet, a former sharia judge with wide political and religious connections, is accused of repeatedly vouching for him, telling politicians that Saudi "instructions" would arrive at the "right moment", a claim that resonated in a political system heavily dependent on informal foreign patronage.
Targets were typically politicians or wealthy figures seeking Saudi backing for parliamentary campaigns, cabinet posts or business interests.
In return, they were allegedly asked to "take care of" Oraymet or donate to an association run by his wife, with some providing monthly stipends or other financial support.
In several cases cited by Lebanese media, politicians were told that "Abu Omar" could help secure parliamentary seats, ministerial appointments or even the premiership.
The scheme reached its most sensitive point during the January 2025 parliamentary consultations that led to the designation of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Several MPs later acknowledged receiving calls from "Abu Omar", reportedly urging them to back Salam, presenting the move as Riyadh's preference.
While Saudi Arabia was in fact leaning towards Salam, it later emerged that at least some MPs may have acted on what they believed were royal instructions delivered by a man only pretending to be a Saudi royal.
How the scheme unravelled
Suspicion grew when al-Hessian repeatedly refused to meet contacts in person and never appeared at the Saudi embassy.
According to Lebanese reporting, the scam began to collapse when a political figure attempted to call "Abu Omar" while sitting next to Al-Hessian and saw his phone ring.
Other politicians quietly checked with Saudi officials, who denied any knowledge of such a figure.
The matter was reportedly eventually raised directly with Saudi envoy Yazid bin Farhan, who requested recordings of calls allegedly made by the fake prince.
A compiled file was sent to Riyadh in October, and Lebanese Army Intelligence began monitoring al-Hessian. He was arrested shortly after crossing back into Lebanon from Syria, with security sources saying he admitted to making calls at Oraymet's request.
Saudi officials have publicly denied any connection to al-Hessian and Oraymet, stressing that the impersonation was entirely fraudulent.
The case has triggered intense debate in Lebanon about political dependency on external patrons, particularly within Sunni politics, where Saudi backing has long been decisive.
It has also raised questions about how a man from a poor border village, with no visible wealth or official connections, was able to operate for years without detection, and why warnings about him went unheeded.