Former Minister of Industry, Georges Bouchikian. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Former Minister of Industry Georges Bouchikian, who stands accused of corruption, failed to appear before Attorney General Jamal Hajjar at noon on Wednesday as a "witness," due to "health reasons," according to a report from Lebanon Debate. A new date for the hearing will be set for next week.
Bouchikian and Amine Salam, former ministers of industry and economy, respectively, are suspected of accepting and encouraging bribes while serving in office. Both held their positions in Najib Mikati's government from Sept. 10, 2021, to Feb. 8, 2025.
Bouchikian and his ministry are accused of having handed out licenses to manufacturers who were willing to give him money under the table, according to information revealed in a report published last February. This report served as the basis for a request to open an inquiry before Judge Hajjar, submitted by investigative journalist Riad Tawk.
The report also prompted, in early March, the new minister of industry, Joe Issa al-Khoury, to ask the Central Inspection (CI), headed by Judge Georges Attieh, to assign audit teams to conduct an internal investigation to identify any remaining employees who may have been involved in bribery.
The CI has so far questioned several officials from the Ministry of Industry, a source close to the investigation told L'Orient Today. Renewed anti-corruption efforts come amid a shifting political landscape in Lebanon, with commitments to root out such practices having been, at least, vocalized.
On June 19, the first investigative judge of Beirut, Bilal Halaoui, issued an arrest warrant against Amin Salam after questioning him earlier that morning in the corruption case in which he is suspected of being involved.
