Lebanon’s top prosecutor charges Beirut blast Judge Tarek Bitar
1 year, 10 months ago

Lebanon’s top prosecutor charges Beirut blast Judge Tarek Bitar

Al Jazeera  

Ghassan Oweidat also ordered the release of all suspects detained in connection with the deadly 2020 Beirut blast. Lebanon’s top prosecutor has filed charges against the judge investigating the deadly blast at Beirut’s port in 2020 and ordered the release of all suspects detained in connection with the case, according to reports citing judicial sources. The decision on Wednesday by Ghassan Oweidat reflected escalating opposition by Lebanon’s governing class to efforts by Judge Tarek Bitar to resume his probe into the devastating explosion that killed some 220 people, injured thousands and wrecked large parts of the Lebanese capital. Bitar also charged top current and former officials, including Oweidat, a judicial source was quoted as saying in reports, without specifying the charges against the top prosecutor. Senior politicians whom Bitar sought to interrogate included members of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s Amal Movement, an important Hezbollah ally, along with Hassan Diab – prime minister at the time of the blast – and top security official Major-General Abbas Ibrahim.

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History of this topic

Lebanon's top court suspends arrest warrants for 2 former cabinet ministers in port blast case
11 months, 1 week ago

Lebanon's top court suspends arrest warrants for 2 former cabinet ministers in port blast case

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A judge at Lebanon’s highest …

Lebanon’s top court suspends arrest warrants for 2 former cabinet ministers in port blast case
11 months, 1 week ago

Lebanon’s top court suspends arrest warrants for 2 former cabinet ministers in port blast case

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — A judge at Lebanon’s highest court suspended the arrest warrants against two former cabinet ministers in the 2020 Beirut port blast case, officials said Tuesday. Judge Sabbouh Suleiman of the Court of Cassation lifted the warrants against former public works minister, Youssef Fenianos, as well as former finance minister and current member of parliament Ali Hassan Khalil, judicial …

Will Lebanon ever see justice for the 2020 Beirut port blast?
1 year, 10 months ago

Will Lebanon ever see justice for the 2020 Beirut port blast?

Al Jazeera  

It has been more than two years since an enormous explosion at Lebanon’s Port of Beirut killed at least 218 people and injured 7,000 – but there has still been no accountability. Families of the victims were given new hope in late January when Judge Tarek Bitar reopened his dormant investigation into the blast, as well as the leaders accused …

Families of Beirut port blast outraged by infighting over inquiry
1 year, 10 months ago

Families of Beirut port blast outraged by infighting over inquiry

Al Jazeera  

Dozens protest in Lebanese capital against the public prosecutor’s attempt to stop a judge from continuing his investigation. Family members of the victims of the 2020 Beirut port blast have tried to break into the Justice Palace in the Lebanese capital as they protested against the lack of progress in the investigation over the explosion. “They have been demanding justice …

Top prosecutor orders release of Beirut port blast detainees
1 year, 10 months ago

Top prosecutor orders release of Beirut port blast detainees

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s top prosecutor Wednesday ordered the release of all suspects detained in the investigation into the deadly 2020 port blast in Beirut and filed charges against the judge leading the probe, he told The Associated Press. The decision came after Bitar on Monday resumed the investigation into the devastating port blast, following a 13-month halt over legal challenges …

Lebanon top prosecutor, judges charged over Beirut blast: official
1 year, 10 months ago

Lebanon top prosecutor, judges charged over Beirut blast: official

Firstpost  

One of history’s biggest non-nuclear explosions destroyed most of Beirut port and surrounding areas on 4 August 2020, killing more than 215 people and injuring over 6,500 Beirut: The Lebanese judge probing the devastating Beirut port blast has charged Prosecutor General Ghassan Oueidat and three judges, a first in the country’s history, a judicial official told AFP on Tuesday. On …

Former Lebanon PM Diab charged in Beirut blast investigation
1 year, 11 months ago

Former Lebanon PM Diab charged in Beirut blast investigation

Al Jazeera  

Lebanon’s public prosecutor and head of its domestic intelligence agency also are charged in connection with the 2020 explosion, which killed at least 218 people. Other top officials, including the country’s public prosecutor and the head of the domestic intelligence agency, were also charged in connection with the blast, judicial sources said on Tuesday. Bitar’s efforts to interrogate top officials …

Investigation into Beirut’s massive 2020 port blast resumes
1 year, 11 months ago

Investigation into Beirut’s massive 2020 port blast resumes

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — The judge investigating Beirut’s massive 2020 port blast resumed work Monday after a nearly 13-month halt, ordering the release of some detainees and announcing plans to charge others, including two top generals, judicial officials said. Judge Tarek Bitar’s work had been blocked since December 2021 pending a Court of Cassation ruling after three former Cabinet ministers filed legal …

Lebanese judge probing 2020 Beirut port blast resumes inquiry
1 year, 11 months ago

Lebanese judge probing 2020 Beirut port blast resumes inquiry

Al Jazeera  

The probe into the 2020 explosion had been derailed for months by legal challenges as well resistance from factions. The Lebanese judge investigating the deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion has unexpectedly resumed his inquiry, after a 13-month suspension due to political resistance to his attempts to interrogate top officials. Bitar also ordered the release of five people detained since shortly …

Lebanese urge end to ‘campaign’ against Beirut blast judge
3 years, 1 month ago

Lebanese urge end to ‘campaign’ against Beirut blast judge

Al Jazeera  

Rights groups, lawyers, and journalists call for ‘honest’ reporting on the deadly Beirut Port explosion investigation in the media. Beirut, Lebanon – Rights groups, lawyers, and journalists condemned authorities for obstructing the Beirut blast probe by “undermining facts”, accusing officials on Tuesday of leaking misinformation and intervening in the justice system. “The political rulers are using the media as a …

Beirut blast judge summons ex-ministers as pressure mounts
3 years, 2 months ago

Beirut blast judge summons ex-ministers as pressure mounts

Al Jazeera  

Beirut explosion investigator Tarek Bitar continues to pursue political leaders despite Lebanese politicians trying to remove him. Beirut, Lebanon – The lead investigator of the Beirut Port blast probe summoned two charged ex-ministers again as Lebanese leaders continue to mount pressure on him. Lebanese leaders, most notably Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, continue to call for Bitar’s removal, and accuse …

Analysis: How Judge Bitar’s probe shook Lebanon leaders
3 years, 2 months ago

Analysis: How Judge Bitar’s probe shook Lebanon leaders

Al Jazeera  

Experts say judge leading investigation into last year’s explosion at Beirut’s port rattled the country simply by challenging systemic impunity. But even fewer expected that the lead investigator, Judge Tarek Bitar, could rattle the country’s entrenched leadership, which for decades has reigned with impunity and routinely quashed legal investigations that may hold it accountable. “Judge Bitar is giving the Lebanese …

Beirut blast probe suspended again as judge issues arrest warrant
3 years, 2 months ago

Beirut blast probe suspended again as judge issues arrest warrant

Al Jazeera  

Lawyers for former ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zeaiter register new legal complaint against Judge Tarek Bitar. Beirut, Lebanon – The probe into the Beirut port explosion has been suspended after two former ministers facing charges lodged a new legal complaint against the lead investigator. The development came moments after Judge Tarek Bitar issued an arrest warrant for ex-finance …

Hezbollah leader wants investigator in Beirut blast replaced
3 years, 2 months ago

Hezbollah leader wants investigator in Beirut blast replaced

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — The leader of Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group Monday escalated his attack on the judge leading the probe into last year’s port explosion, calling on authorities to replace him with a “truthful and transparent” investigator. Bitar has been the recipient of heavy criticism from Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, who has repeatedly accused him of politicizing the probe. On Monday, …

Court allows Judge Bitar to resume Beirut blast investigation
3 years, 2 months ago

Court allows Judge Bitar to resume Beirut blast investigation

Al Jazeera  

An appeals court has rejected a request by former ministers to remove Judge Bitar from the investigation. Beirut, Lebanon – The Beirut Appeals Court has rejected requests to remove Judge Tarek Bitar from the Beirut Port blast investigation, which were presented by former ministers charged in the investigation. The investigation into the port blast that rocked the Lebanese capital was …

Lebanon judge seeks arrest of ex-minister charged in Beirut blast
3 years, 3 months ago

Lebanon judge seeks arrest of ex-minister charged in Beirut blast

Al Jazeera  

Judge issues arrest warrant after former public works minister Youssef Fenianos fails to appear for questioning. The lead judge investigating Lebanon’s massive port explosion last year has issued an arrest warrant for a former government minister who failed to appear for questioning, state media has reported. Youssef Fenianos, the former public works minister, is one of several former government officials …

Lebanese MPs accused of Beirut blast ‘cover up’ over trial move
3 years, 5 months ago

Lebanese MPs accused of Beirut blast ‘cover up’ over trial move

Al Jazeera  

Critics say parliamentary move for special judicial body to try officials over Beirut port blast shields them from prosecution. Beirut, Lebanon – Dozens of Lebanese MPs have pledged support for a parliamentary motion allowing a special judicial body to investigate and try caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and four ex-ministers over last year’s Beirut Port explosion, but legal activists and …

No top officials to be indicted over Beirut blast: Sources
4 years, 1 month ago

No top officials to be indicted over Beirut blast: Sources

Al Jazeera  

Lead investigator in Lebanon blast that killed 200 has limited probe to low- and mid-level officials, judicial sources say. A second judicial source said the charges include “willful negligence that led to the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians and injury of others”, and “causing massive destruction to public and private property”. Where is the public interest in this?” French …

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