Judge Pierre Francis appointed acting prosecutor general after govt failed to name successor

BEIRUT — Judge Pierre Francis, advocate general at the Court of Cassation, was appointed Friday as acting public prosecutor at the same court, replacing Judge Jamal Hajjar, who is set to retire Saturday, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Francis is due to assume his duties on Monday. The interim appointment comes as the Cabinet has yet to name a permanent successor, after failing to address the issue during Thursday’s meeting, when Justice Minister Adel Nassar was absent from the session.

Francis will head the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation until a permanent appointment is made.

He takes office amid a series of sensitive cases, including the Aug. 4, 2020, Beirut port explosion, proceedings involving senior officials linked to the 2019 financial crisis, and prosecutions against members of Hezbollah following the government’s March 2 decision to deem the group’s military and security activities illegal.