MPs Are Reportedly Seeking To Help Beirut Blast Suspects Escape Justice
The Beirut-based NGO Legal Agenda has revealed that more than 50 MPs have signed a request to open a parallel investigation into the Beirut Blast to that of investigator Judge Tarek Bitar.
This unusual request, which is another breach of the separation of powers witnessed recently in Lebanon, not only interferes with the judiciary but can also sabotage the investigation , which has been already facing strong resistance and lack of cooperation from the officials .
Like former blast investigator Judge Fadi Sawan, Judge Bitar is seeking to prosecute MPs Ali Hassan Khalil, Nouhad Machnouk, and Ghazi Zeaiter, as well as caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and former minister Youssef Fenianos, among others.
However, opening a parallel investigation alongside Judge Bitar’s investigation would move suspects out of his rightful authority and into a "fictitious" court, according to Legal Agenda.
The move is deemed as a way for MPs to help their peers escape justice after Judge Bitar indicted them for their possible involvement in the harrowing August 4 Explosion.
Calling it The List of Shame , Legal Agenda published the alleged confirmed names of MPs involved in the maneuver of freeing the politicians from the grasp of justice, noting that it has extended to over 50 MPs.
Legal Agenda listed the following names:
Development and Liberation Bloc
Kassem Hashem
Ali Khreis
Michel Moussa
Mohammad Nasrallah
Ali Bazzi
Yassine Jaber
Ali Osseiran
Fadi Alameh
Inaya Ezzedine
Mohammad Khawaja
Ayoub Hmeid
Future Bloc
Baker Hujeiri
Walid Baarini
Othman Alameddine
Dima Jamali
Bahida Hariri
Tarek El Merhebi
Mohammad Al Hajjar
Mohammad Sleiman
Sami Fatfat
Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc