The statue of the Lebanese Emigrant, facing the silos of the port of Beirut. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT — One of the customs officials involved in State Security's corruption investigation into 10 Beirut Port officials was found dead on Saturday in his car in Jahilieh (Chouf district), a judicial source confirmed.
According to initial investigations into the death, the customs trainee is believed to have shot himself in the head, the source revealed, but could not confirm whether his presumed suicide was related to the bribery case in which he was implicated or to potential psychological disorders he may have been experiencing.
According to the same source, the financial prosecutor general, Maher Shaeito, has yet to look into the files of the officials concerned, all of whom are suspected of having received bribes in exchange for the facilitation of administrative procedures. The review is expected to begin soon.
While awaiting judicial review, the officials have been reassigned to other posts, but have not been arrested. Some are said to have been covertly filmed receiving tips and gratuities, the source said.
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