No interrogation sessions held for the high-ranks suspects.. The reason: The State Public Prosecutor

No interrogation sessions held for the high-ranks suspects

The reason: The State Public Prosecutor

An interrogation session was held today the 20^th of August, 2021 regarding the investigation file of the Beirut port explosion without the attendance of the former minister Yousef Finianous.

And in the details, the forensic investigator Judge Tarek Bitar attended today’s session as agreed along with a number of lawyers among whom lawyer Samantha Al Hajjar on the behalf of plaintiff Ziad Risha, and UFL lawyers. The defendant, Yousef Fenianos, the former Minister of Works and Transport, did not attend since it was not feasible to inform him based on a copy of the criminal investigation report of the Discriminatory Public Prosecution after it was sent several times to his office as well as Zgharta area. The excuse was that the vehicle was not able to reach its destination because of closed roads by protestors and congestion on fuel stations. The session was adjourned until September 6, 2021.

UFL is surprised by the allegation that Finianous was not informed due to the situation of the roads, and considers that this is nothing but “an excuse worse than a sin”. What emerges from all this context, is the delay in the investigation and the lack of cooperation with Judge Bitar. The coverage of this delay, for insubstantial reasons, is not only by the discriminatory Public Prosecution, but by Fenianos himself, especially since the entire country knows the dates of the sessions and who will attend them.

It is essential for us to clarify to the public opinion that procrastination is not limited to these acts, but also to the Discriminatory Public Prosecution's work in this file in general. The delay practiced by the latter, in putting its readings on the defenses, and closing its offices for two working days on August 18 and 20, will inevitably lead to the adjournment of many sessions and thus more procrastination. This is the responsibility of the General Discriminatory Prosecutor Judge Ghassan Oeidat, Judge Ghassan Khoury currently in charge of the file, and everyone who contributes to the politicization of the judiciary, and pushes it to abandon its duties towards the Lebanese people.