Fake Prince CONTROLLED Government—For 10 YEARS

Person holding a tablet displaying a news website with a 'FAKE' stamp

A Lebanese auto repair worker successfully impersonated a Saudi prince for a decade, manipulating top politicians and potentially influencing the selection of Lebanon’s prime minister—exposing the dangerous naivety of foreign-dependent elites who surrendered national sovereignty for unverified foreign promises.

Story Snapshot

Mustafa al-Hessian posed as “Abu Omar,” a fake Saudi prince, deceiving Lebanese MPs and former ministers from at least 2015 through 2025 using only phone calls
Sunni cleric Khaldoun Araymet coordinated the scheme, collecting thousands monthly from victims including ex-Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon who paid $4,000 per month for promised political backing
The imposter influenced parliamentary votes during prime minister consultations in late 2025, instructing MPs to vote for Nawaf Salam while claiming to represent Saudi interests
Lebanese Army Intelligence arrested both al-Hessian and Araymet in late 2025 and early 2026, filing charges including fraud, blackmail, and harming Saudi-Lebanon relations

Decade-Long Deception Targets Political Elite

Mustafa al-Hessian, a mechanic from Lebanon’s impoverished Akkar region, maintained his charade as “Abu Omar” for over ten years without ever meeting his victims face-to-face. The imposter relied exclusively on phone calls delivered in Gulf-accented Arabic using Saudi and British numbers. Sunni cleric Khaldoun Araymet introduced al-Hessian to ambitious politicians as a direct channel to Riyadh’s royal court. High-profile victims included former Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon, ex-Telecoms Minister Mohammad Choucair, and multiple members of parliament. The scheme promised Saudi political endorsements, financial support, and exclusive access to influential circles in exchange for monthly payments and political favors benefiting Araymet’s family.

Constitutional Process Compromised by Foreign Influence Scam

The impersonation reached its most dangerous phase during Lebanon’s 2025 parliamentary consultations for prime minister selection. Al-Hessian, posing as the Saudi prince, contacted multiple MPs with explicit instructions to vote for Nawaf Salam over rival candidate Najib Mikati, claiming these directives came from Saudi Arabia’s government. This manipulation directly interfered with Lebanon’s constitutional processes during a critical political vacuum that had delayed prime minister selection since 2022. Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora once attempted to introduce “Abu Omar” to Bahia Hariri, but the meeting was prevented when Hariri verified with the Saudi embassy that no such prince existed. Despite this early warning, the scheme continued unchecked for years.

Arrests Expose Systemic Vulnerability to Foreign Manipulation

Lebanese Army Intelligence arrested al-Hessian in mid-December 2025 after suspicions arose when a phone rang near one victim during a supposed call from the “prince.” Saudi authorities had alerted Lebanese officials about the impersonator, confirming no legitimate Saudi royal was involved. Araymet was detained in early 2026, with both men facing charges including fraud, blackmail, impersonation of officials, and damaging Saudi-Lebanese relations. Video evidence from October 2025 showing al-Hessian’s detention has since surfaced. Al-Hessian confessed to acting under Araymet’s direction, while his family maintains he is a “simple person” with no elite connections. The cleric had received substantial monthly payments and secured lucrative contracts for his son at Beirut’s port.

Patronage System Reveals Elite Surrender of Sovereignty

This scandal exposes the catastrophic failure of Lebanon’s sectarian patronage system, where politicians prioritize unverified foreign endorsements over national interests or basic due diligence. Sami Atallah from The Policy Initiative noted the scam exploited politicians’ desperation for Saudi backing and their willingness to surrender sovereignty to external powers. Lebanese American University’s Imad Salamey identified the real victims as the Lebanese people trapped in a corrupt sectarian system with easily manipulated politicians. The scheme thrived because Lebanon’s Sunni political vacuum following Saad Hariri’s 2021 withdrawal left ambitious figures desperately seeking Saudi validation. Post-2018 economic collapse and the 2020 Beirut port explosion intensified this desperation for Gulf financial aid, creating ideal conditions for such exploitation.

Long-Term Damage to National Institutions and Trust

The immediate consequences include judicial investigations with ongoing probes for additional audio and video evidence, plus potential charges against more suspects. Long-term implications threaten Lebanon’s already fragile informal diplomatic channels and highlight the urgent need for institutional reforms replacing personal brokers with verifiable governmental processes. Politicians face severe reputational damage, though some MPs dismiss the impact by claiming Salam’s victory was already assured regardless of the imposter’s interference. This defense misses the fundamental point that elected officials were willing to take constitutional direction from an unverified foreign voice. The scandal has prompted calls from think tanks for Lebanon to abandon its dependence on external patrons and establish verification protocols for foreign political communications.