Beirut’s port smolders after the catastrophic Aug. 4 explosion. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has called for a joint session on Friday to discuss a request from the lead investigator into the Beirut port explosion to lift parliamentary legal immunity from three MPs.
Earlier on Tuesday, Parliament had reportedly confirmed that it received the request from Tarek Bitar to lift immunity from MPs Ali Hasan Khalil (Hezbollah/Marjayoun-Hasbaya), Ghazi Zeaiter (Amal/Baalbeck-Hermel) and Nouhad Machnouk (Future/West Beirut).
Bitar had issued the request on Friday. It indicates that Bitar may be considering court proceedings against the three MPs, who along with many other public officials are shielded from legal charges unless a prosecuting judge receives permission to initiate charges against them.
Given that MPs Khalil and Zeiter are also lawyers, the judge asked permission from the Beirut Bar Association to prosecute them, and he asked permission from the Tripoli Bar Association to prosecute former Minister Yousef Fenianos, who is also a lawyer.
In addition to the three MPs, Bitar summoned caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab for questioning as a defendant, and he requested permission to prosecute top security and military officials, including the head of General Security, Abbas Ibrahim; the head of State Security, Maj. Gen. Tony Saliba; former Lebanese Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwaji; and Brig. Gen. Kameel Daher, the former head of military intelligence.
Speaking with L’Orient Today on Tuesday, MP Hady Hobeiche (Future/Akkar), a member of the Administration and Justice Committee member, which will take part in Friday’s session, expressed skepticism about Bitar’s motivations in calling to lift immunity from only three MPs.
“We all know that there are more officials who knew about the presence of ammonium nitrate that Bitar has not called for questioning,” Hobeiche said.
“As for the investigation, I think the most important part is knowing who brought the explosive material rather than who knew about it and didn’t do anything,” he added.
The investigation into the catastrophic explosion, which killed more than 200 people and wounded thousands more, has languished for almost a year amid criticisms of its lack of transparency and alleged meddling on the part of Lebanese officials.
A move similar to Bitar’s recent request resulted in his predecessor, Fadi Sawwan, being removed from the case by the country’s highest appeals court, which cited his pursuit of charges against public figures who have immunity from prosecution in their official roles.