Former minister Nouhad Machnouk has filed a lawsuit against the Lebanese state regarding the Beirut port blast probe. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT – MP Nouhad Machnouk (Independent/West Beirut) has filed a suit against the Lebanese state, setting the stage to bring to a halt judge Tarek Bitar’s investigation into the former minister, a judicial source told L’Orient Today.
Here’s what we know:
• Machnouk’s attorney filed the lawsuit before the Court of Cassation, the source said, adding that once Bitar is formally notified of the action his investigation into the former minister will be placed on hold.
• The judge’s investigation into Machnouk — who served as interior minister from Feb. 2014 until Jan. 2019 — will be on pause pending a decision by the Court of Cassation.
• The suit filed by Machnouk, a former Future Movement politician who split from the party, comes a day before he was scheduled to provide testimony to Bitar.
• On Wednesday, Hassan Diab filed a similar lawsuit, leading Bitar to suspend a scheduled hearing Thursday of the former premier.
• On Oct. 4, the Beirut Appellate Court rejected a previous suit filed by Machnouk