Search
Search

PORT INVESTIGATION

MPs target second magistrate in quest to remove port probe head Bitar

MPs target second magistrate in quest to remove port probe head Bitar

Ghazi Zeaiter and Ali Hassan Khalil. (Credit: L'Orient-Le Jour)

BEIRUT — Sitting MPs Ghazi Zeaitar and Ali Hassan Khalil on Wednesday targeted yet another magistrate in Lebanon's judiciary, requesting his dismissal after their petitions to replace Beirut port explosion investigator Judge Tarek Bitar were declined.

Here's what we know:

    • Zeaitar and Hassan Khalil have submitted requests to dismiss Judge Nassib Elia, who heads the Beirut Court of Appeals, on the grounds that he obstructed their efforts to remove Bitar from the probe into the Aug. 4, 2020, Beirut port blast, a judicial source told L'Orient Today.

    • In what legal experts say was a manoeuvre to evade answering to their charges, Zeaitar and Khalil filed lawsuits to the Beirut Court of Appeals in September requesting to have Bitar removed from the blast investigation over suspicion of maladministration.

    • The Beirut Court of Appeals unanimously rejected the lawsuits a week later, saying it lacked jurisdiction over the matter, and fined the MPs LL800,000 each. Legal Agenda said at the time that the fines were issued for bringing “arbitrary” claims.

    • Zeaitar and Khalil have been repeatedly summoned by Bitar for interrogation for their role in the blast. Both have failed to appear for questioning, citing parliamentary immunity which protects legislators from prosecution.

    • Zeaitar, a former public works minister, filed a suit against the Lebanese state last week for “grave mistakes” attributed to Bitar. The complaint forced the suspension of any investigation relating to the MP, a day before he was expected to appear for questioning.

BEIRUT — Sitting MPs Ghazi Zeaitar and Ali Hassan Khalil on Wednesday targeted yet another magistrate in Lebanon's judiciary, requesting his dismissal after their petitions to replace Beirut port explosion investigator Judge Tarek Bitar were declined.Here's what we know:    • Zeaitar and Hassan Khalil have submitted requests to dismiss Judge Nassib Elia, who heads the Beirut Court...