Former minister Nouhad Machnouk has filed a lawsuit against investigative judge Tarek Bitar, questioning his “impartiality.”
This lawsuit forces Judge Bitar to pause the investigation until a top court can rule on this case.
The last time this occurred was against Judge Bitar’s predecessor, Fadi Sawan. It took 2 months for the court to issue a ruling that ultimately dismissed Sawan.
Former Minister Nouhad Machnouk is currently a suspect in the Beirut Port explosion and was set to be questioned by Judge Bitar this week.
Judge Bitar has faced increasing political pressure and interference, and smear campaigns, as well as death threats as he ramps up his efforts into the investigation.
There is a protest in his support this Wednesday outside of the Justice Palace in Beirut.
Judge Bitar has general approval among many Lebanese, activists, as well as the families of the Beirut Port victims. The political class and Hezbollah, however, have been doubling their efforts to stop him.
Judge Bitar was set to interrogate this week the following officials:
- Camille Daher – Former Military Intelligence head
- Jean Kahwagi – Former Army Commander
- Ali Hasan Khalil – MP and former Finance Minister (Amal Party)
- Ghazi Zeaiter – MP and former Public Works Minister (Amal Party)
- Nouhad Machnouk – MP and former Interior Minister (Future Party)
- Ghassan Gharzeddine – former military intelligence officer
- Jawdat Ouiedat – former military intelligence officer
Families of the victims of the Beirut Port explosion reiterated their demand for an international investigation by the UN Human Rights Council.
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