The lead investigator into the Beirut port blast, Judge Fadi Sawwan, paused for ten days the investigation into the case following requests by the defendants to transfer the file to a different judge.
A judicial source said that two ex-ministers charged in the case have asked authorities to move the file to a different judge.
Last week, Sawwan, probing last summer’s port explosion in Beirut, filed charges against caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, as well as Ghazi Zoaiter and Youssef Fenianos, both former ministers of public works, accusing them of negligence that led to the death of hundreds of people.
Former minister Youssef Fenianos said he is going to appear before the investigating judge over the Beirut port blast probe but according to his own scheduling, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday. I decided to appear before the judge but at my own timing. My conscience is clear and will therefore meet the judge to tell him he violated article 40, 70 and 71 of the constitution, said Fenianos.
On Tuesday, Fenianos went to the Judicial Palace to attend a questioning by Judge Fadi Sawwan, the lead investigator into the port blast, but that the session was postponed to a later date which he was not duly notified of.
Former minister Youssef Fenianos said he is going to appear before the investigating judge over the Beirut port blast probe but according to his own scheduling, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday. I decided to appear before the judge but at my own timing. My conscience is clear and will therefore meet the judge to tell him he violated article 40, 70 and 71 of the constitution, said Fenianos.
On Tuesday, Fenianos went to the Judicial Palace to attend a questioning by Judge Fadi Sawwan, the lead investigator into the port blast, but that the session was postponed to a later date which he was not duly notified of.
Lebanon’s PM declines questioning over Beirut port blast
Diab had been questioned by Judge Fadi Sawwan as a witness earlier but now he would face questions as a defendant.
Monday 14/12/2020
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announcing his government’s resignation amid popular outrage over the deadly Beirut port explosion, last August. (AFP)
BEIRUT – Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Hassan Diab, has declined to be questioned by the judge who charged him and three former ministers with negligence over the Beirut port blast, an official source said on Monday.
Persons familiar with the case said Monday the premier has already given the prosecutor all the information he has. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
By : Baria Alamuddin
This August 5, 2020 file photo, is the scene of an explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon. 200 killed , several still missing , 6500 Injured after 2,750 Tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate Exploded . They were stored there for nearly 7 years. The shelf life of the product is supposed to be 6 months according to experts . After 6 months it starts solidifying and becomes more explodable . President Michel Aoun and PM Diab knew about the Ammonium Nitrate 2 weeks before the explosion but did nothing about it . Judge Fadi Sawan who is in charge of the investigation charged Diab , former finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil, and former public works ministers Ghazi Zeaiter and Youssef Finianos with negligence over the explosion . The politicians behind the charged politicians attacked the judge and accused him of politicizing the issue (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, Beirut, Lebanon(Photo by Anwar Amro/AFP)