Doctor Food released on bail: What happens next in the drug case?

George Hanna Dib, better known as “ Doctor Food,” has been released on bail in the case filed against him by his former wife, while another major legal battle involving a drug case is still hanging over him.

The latest developments have placed Doctor Food at the center of two separate judicial tracks, with his upcoming appearance before Lebanon’s Criminal Court expected to be a key moment in the drug proceedings.

Doctor Food Released on Bail

According to Lebanese media reports published this week, a judicial decision was issued in the complaint filed against Dib by his former wife, content creator Shorouk Al-Taheri, known online as Shorouk Sunshine.

The decision reportedly charged Dib with misdemeanor-level offenses and approved his release after a financial bail was paid. This means he is no longer being held in connection with that particular complaint.

The complaint had previously involved allegations including physical assault, the alleged taking of money and personal belongings, and other claims. Doctor Food has denied the allegations, and the matter remains subject to the Lebanese judicial process.

His detention began in August after Lebanese authorities arrested him in the town of Rahbe in Akkar. At the time, Lebanese reports said the arrest was carried out under judicial orders connected to both the complaint and an existing drug-related case.

What About the Drug Case?

The drug case is separate from the complaint filed by Shorouk.

Lebanon Debate reported that Dib’s absence from previous hearings created significant complications in the case. According to the report, he failed to attend a hearing before the investigating judge and later did not appear before the Criminal Court. The absence came during a period of military developments in Lebanon and ultimately resulted in a judgment being issued in absentia.

There is an important distinction here. The latest reports cited by Lebanon Debate state that Dib has no connection to the core facts of the drug case. However, Lebanese courts had already issued an in-absentia judgment against him in July.

In that ruling, the Mount Lebanon Criminal Court sentenced Dib and several other defendants to life hard labor under Article 150 of Lebanon’s drug law. The court also imposed a fine of 120 million Lebanese pounds on each defendant and ordered the loss of civil rights for those convicted in absentia.

The case reportedly involved allegations that drugs were manufactured and concealed inside biscuit products before being shipped outside Lebanon through Turkey. Earlier investigations had also named Dib and his company alongside other defendants.

Doctor Food has publicly denied the drug allegations and maintained that he is innocent. Following the in-absentia ruling, he said his legal team would pursue the available legal procedures.

What Happens When Doctor Food Appears?

The latest reports say Dib aka Doctor Food is expected to appear before the Criminal Court for a new hearing, where the case can be considered in his presence.

His defense team is reportedly expected to seek his release after the court hears his testimony. There have also been reports suggesting that the drug case could fall under a general amnesty, although whether any amnesty applies remains a matter for the judiciary and the applicable legal conditions.

For now, his release on bail concerns the complaint filed by his former wife and does not automatically resolve the separate drug case.

That upcoming court appearance could therefore become the next major turning point for Doctor Food, as the Lebanese judiciary determines what happens after the earlier in-absentia judgment and considers the case with Dib present.