Retired Lebanese music mega-star Fadl Shaker was sentenced to five years in prison in absentia by a Lebanese military tribunal, reported the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA).

The sentence, which was issued on Friday, also included a fine of 500,000 Lebanese liras.

Shaker was charged with conducting an interview "aimed at damaging Lebanon's ties" with other Arab countries and inciting sectarian strife. 

According to the Lebanese website Al-Nahar Net, Shaker’s comments referenced former minister Michel Samaha, who was arrested in 2012 for smuggling explosives from Syria to Lebanon to carry out attacks in the country.

He was sentenced to four-and-half years in jail in May 2015, but in June the cassation court nullified the verdict and ordered a retrial.

He was released on bail in January.

Fadl Abdulrahman Shamandar, better known as Fadl Shaker (born 1April 1969), is a former Lebanese singer of Palestinian origin who gained tremendous fame during his career.

In 2011, he declared his allegiance to Salafist sheikh Ahmed Al-Assir and retired from his career in music, which he renounced on religious grounds.

In March 2015, he announced on LBCI news that he had distanced himself from sheikh Al-Assir and that he hopes to return to his normal life.

Egyptian pop star Sherine Abdel-Wahab called on her fans to support Shaker during her latest concert in Kuwait in February.

Her controversial statement provoked criticism from fans in different Arab countries, with some accusing her of "supporting a terrorist".

She dismissed the accusations and described Shaker as a friend. She has not commented on the latest developments.

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