Deputy House Speaker Elie Ferzli indicated that lawmakers who convened Friday in Ain-el-Tineh had decided to request the documents and evidence compiled by lead investigator in the Beirut port blast case, Judge Tarek Bitar, before allowing the lifting of immunity of officials summoned in the probe
“After reviewing Judge Tarek Bitar’s demand for permission to prosecute former minister Nohad Mashnouq and MPs Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zeaiter (…) and following lengthy discussions by the Parliament Bureau and the Administration and Justice House Committee, chaired by Speaker Nabih Berri, it has been decided to demand the brief of evidence included in the probe, in addition to all documents and papers substantiating suspicions and relevant to those called in for questioning,” Ferzli said.
He added that the Parliament Bureau and the said Committee would convene upon receiving the requested documents, before addressing the House in that respect.
“The Parliament is keen on this national cause, and it vows to following up on this dossier in accordance with the law and the Constitution,” he said.
Lead investigative judge into the Beirut port blast Tarek Bitar has decided to prosecute the caretaker prime minister Hassan Diab, MP Ali Hasan Khalil, MP Ghazi Zaiter, MP Nuhad Mashnouq, former minister Fenianos, Saliba, General Security Chief Abbas Ibrahim, the head of State Security, General Tony Saliba as well as several former military commanders and a number of judges.
MPs Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zoueiter, on Friday said in response to Beirut Port blast investigator’s request for the parliament’s permission to question them that they were “ready to appear before the judge immediately, even before the permission is requested, to help uncover the truth and steer clear from responsibility for this crime.”
On August 4, 2020, a massive blast rocked Beirut Port blast, killing around 195 citizens and injuring over 6000 of others. The explosion also caused much destruction in the capital and its suburbs.
Source: NNA