Elie Haykal, an activist from the popular movement against the ruling political class. (Credit: Facebook/Elie Haykal)
BEIRUT — Energy Minister Walid Fayad’s reported attacker Elie Haykal, an activist from the Oct. 17 protest movement, was released on bail Monday following a decision from the Indictment Chamber of Beirut, Haykal's lawyer, Ralph Tannous, confirmed.
Here’s what we know:
• The Indictment Chamber of Beirut confirmed the judgment issued last Thursday by the first interim investigating judge of Beirut, Charbel Abou Samra, who had charged Haykal and posted a LL5 million bail. Under the judgment, Haykal should not leave the Adonis area in Kesrouan during the investigation period which extends for the next 20 days.
• The activist is however authorized to go out on May 15 to fulfill his electoral duty within the framework of the legislative elections, on condition that he notifies the police of Zouk Mosbeh-Kesrouan 24 hours in advance.
• Haykal was arrested on April 27, three days after Fayad was captured on video being accosted by a group of people while leaving a bar in Achrafieh. Videos on social media portrayed protesters, who identify themselves as belonging to the Oct. 2019 protest movement, shoving Fayad and accusing him of being drunk, hours after the sinking of a migrant boat off the coast of Tripoli.
• A complaint was lodged by Fayad at a police station in Achrafieh and Public Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat issued an arrest warrant against Haykal, who initially attempted to escape before turning himself in on April 27 at a police station located in Zouk Mosbeh near his home.
• Judge Zaher Hamadeh subsequently initiated proceedings against Haykal and other activists, namely Chafic Badreh, Neemat el-Rezz, Mayline Sarkis, Michel Doueiry and Sally Afandi, for “violence, formation of a riot and defamation” against the minister. Badreh, who allegedly slapped Fayad, is still evading the investigation, while Sarkis and Afandi will be heard by the investigating judge on Tuesday.