Investigations into Beirut Port blast set to resume
The Beirut Port Scandal has once again been back in the headlines in Lebanon as an investigation into the matter is back on the table,much to the hope of the families of the victims.
There has been a stop-start investigation into the explosion in the capital’s ports, however progress is being made as families have long felt ignored, Asharq Al-Awsat and agencies reported on March 19.
In August 2020, a large quantity of ammonium nitrate stored at the Port of Beirut triggered explosions, resulting in 220 dead and 7,000 injuries as well as leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless.
On March 13, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced the resumption of the operation to reconstruct the Port of Beirut.
Investigations into the blast have been halted for over two years and Court of Cassation Public Prosecutor Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar has reportedly discussed with Judge Tariq Bitar the resumption of said investigations.
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It was reported that the meeting was around an hour long and was “very positive”, emphasising a new phase of cooperation between the general prosecution and judicial investigator.
Following the talks, Mr Bitar, who has been at the forefront of the investigation, issued a list of the names of other defendants, including former Cassation Public Prosecutor Judge Ghassan Oweidat and Cassation Public Prosecutor Judge Ghassan Al-Khoury, and set dates for their interrogation.
In January, Judge Bitar, whose work has been frozen for more than a year amid legal challenges, charged numerous key figures including the heads of the General Security and State Security as well as Hassan Diab who was Prime Minister at the time of the blast. The latter has yet to appear before the judge to answer questions.
Following his meeting with Bitar, Al-Hajjar met with a delegation of the families of the victims who expressed their concerns at “attempts to silence the truth,” however noted Mr Al-Hajjar’s courage throughout the investigation despite political and legal pressure.
Asharq Al-Awsat/ AP/ MENA FN
