Lawyer Hamwi from UFL continues to attend the forensic investigation sessions related to the port explosion

Lawyer Hamwi from UFL continues to attend the forensic investigation sessions related to the port explosion

Mrs. Cynthia Hamwi from UFL Alliance attended the forensic investigation sessions that started today the 5^th of August 2021, through her procuration on behalf of Ziad Richa and the lawyer Rami Ollaik in the Beirut Port Explosion case. Also lawyer Shukri Haddad attended on behalf of the Bar Association, and lawyer Tamam Sahili from the bar association on the behalf of the affected people, alongside with many lawyers of those affected and the defendants.

The former Regional Director of Customs, Moussa Hazimeh, appeared before the judicial investigator, Judge Tarek Bitar, for interrogation, as specified in the summons. Hazimeh’s procurator submitted a memorandum of formal defenses which Lawyer Hamwi has requested the rejection of its content. The session was adjourned to August 23, 2021 for interrogation.

Afterwards, the interrogation session of Sami Hussein the former Major at Beirut Port took place, where the defendant and his lawyer attended and asked for a delay to submit formal defenses. He was given a 5-day time, and the session was adjourned to August 24, 2021.

The last session was with the former head of the Supreme Defense Council, Hani Shehadeh, who attended with his lawyer, and gave up his right to submit formal defenses. The session was adjourned until August 25.

UFL considers that the launch of the investigation sessions and Judge Bitar’s persistence on revealing the truth, constitute two factors of confidence in the course of events. The alliance will continue following up the sessions and provide what is necessary to achieve justice, with its constant demand to find solutions for the conflict of interests, where Judge Ghassan Oweidat performs directly (or through an intermediary) the tasks of the public prosecutor in the case, and the extent of its impact on the impartiality of investigations.