The Zouk thermal power plant. (Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros/L'Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT — Jamal Hajjar, public prosecutor at the Court of Cassations, questioned Kamal Hayek, the director general of Électricité du Liban (EDL), over suspicions that Middle East Power (MEP) — responsible for maintaining engines at the Zouk and Jiyeh power plants — forged documents from German engine manufacturer Everllence (formerly Mann).
The alleged forgery reportedly allowed for the embezzlement of several million euros in public funds
MEP, whose main shareholder is Karim Khayat — the son of Tahsin Khayat, owner of the al-Jadeed TV channel — is accused by EDL of submitting falsified reports claiming that Everllence had supervised maintenance work on the plants, in line with contracts linking MEP to both EDL and Everllence. According to the judicial complaint filed last November, these reports prompted EDL to pay MEP millions in maintenance fees before discovering they were forged.
Judge Hajjar previously questioned Karim Khayat on Jan. 20 and company executive Yehia Mawloud on Jan. 23.
L'Orient Today learned that both men submitted documents to the prosecutor to demonstrate the absence of forgery. By the end of their hearing, they were allowed to remain free but were placed under travel bans while the investigation continues.
