The accusation against Diab and 3 ministers in the port explosion

Beirut – Indira Matar –

While the delay in the formation of a new Lebanese government continues, yesterday a prominent fact emerged in the investigation file of the crime of the attack on the Beirut port, as the judicial investigator, Judge Fadi Sawan, claimed the interim Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, and both former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and former Labor Minister Youssef Fenianos. Ghazi Zuaiter. As of Monday, Sawan will listen to Diab and the former ministers, as defendants, and will forward the file to the Public Ministry of Cassation to comment on the issue of their detention.

On the other hand, the governor of the Banque du Liban, Riad Salameh, invoked “security reasons” to miss an interrogation session with the money changers and the subsidized dollar.

This comes with the reversal of the positive climate for the formation of the government, there is no deadline or date set for President-designate Saad Hariri with President Michel Aoun, after the latter delivered to Hariri an integrated government proposal that includes distribution of portfolios and ministries between the sects, in parallel with their receipt of a proposal for the formation of a government of 18 ministers. According to sources from the Future Movement, President Aoun insists, in contradiction with the constitution, in appointing 7 Christian ministers, which guarantees his retention of the third blockade.

Here are the full details

Despite the delay in the formation of a new Lebanese government and the stagnation of the president’s team, yesterday a prominent fact emerged in the investigation file of the Beirut port explosion that occurred on August 4, where the judicial investigator, Fadi Sawan, claimed the head of the interim government, Hassan Diab, and both. Former ministers Ali Hassan Khalil, Youssef Fenianos and Ghazi Zuaiter. According to judicial sources, Judge Sawan will hear Diab and the former ministers, as defendants, starting Monday.

After hearing his statements before the judicial investigator, Sawan forwarded the file to the Public Ministry of Cassation to rule on the issue of his arrest or not.

This remarkable development in terms of investigations was preceded by the judicial investigator with a letter to Parliament requesting what he deems appropriate regarding the responsibility of some ministers for negligence or negligence that contributed to the occurrence of the port explosion. The Council Office responded quickly to the letter, saying that “what Sawan has done violates Article 80 of the constitution, which stipulates the mission of the Supreme Council to try presidents and ministers.”

Following the prosecution against him, President Diab’s media office issued a statement stating that “Judge Sawan reports Diab’s response to the request to hear his testimony,” stating that he is a man of institutions, respects the law and abide by the constitution that Sawan has violated, and that Diab said what he said.

Security cannot be secure

At the same time, the governor of the Banque du Liban, Riad Salameh, did not go to the office of the Attorney General of Mount Lebanon, Judge Ghada Aoun, to question him with the money changers and the subsidized dollar. Salameh presented through his legal representative a letter apologized for “security reasons”, in which he expressed his willingness to appear before her and give his testimony at a later date, without his opportunity being leaked to the media. which was understood by Judge Aoun.

No government is around

At the government level, the positive atmosphere that prevailed prior to Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s visit to the Baabda Palace has receded. There is no deadline and no next appointment with President Aoun. Note that Hariri left the meeting on Wednesday, announcing that the atmosphere is positive and that Aoun promised to study his proposal for the formation of the government in a positive way. On the other hand, Aoun Al Hariri also delivered an integrated government proposal, which includes the distribution of portfolios and ministries among the sects, but without names. And from the leaks from the war that followed the meeting, it appeared that the government vacancy would last longer.

According to sources, Aoun was surprised by Hariri’s formation, in which he appointed all the ministers, including Christian ministers, without consulting with him, meaning that he did not adopt a single standard.

On the other hand, sources close to the Future Movement reveal that Hariri sponsored the French initiative in its formation, which did not include any obstructive third party from any party. Sources add that the President of the Republic is backing down by insisting on 7 Christian ministers, that is, maintaining the blockade in third place. There was no comment from the Shiite duo who named their ministers in the same way, while media close to Hezbollah launched a campaign against the proposed name to take over the finance ministry, Yusef Khalil, and accused him of being Riad Salameh in Mali. .

The head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, said on Twitter: “It seems that the white smoke surrounding the government is not going to be released soon as a result of more tests to adopt the best vaccine to treat the crisis.”