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The Beirut Court of Appeals has unanimously rejected two lawsuits requesting to have investigating Judge Tarek Bitar removed from the 2020 Beirut port blast investigation over suspicion of negligence and maladministration. One of the claims was filed by former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and former Public Works Minister Ghazi Zeaiter, both of whom are also sitting MPs, and one by MP and former Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk. They had alleged negligence and maladministration on Bitar’s part. However, the court tossed out the case yesterday, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction over the matter and fining the three MPs LL800,000 each because the complaints contained “arbitrary” claims. Last week, when the investigation was temporarily halted until the complaints were adjudicated, legal experts had said the claims were a frivolous attempt to stall the investigation until the MPs regain legal immunity on Oct. 19, when Parliament enters a regular session. The court’s decision came on the 14-month anniversary of the blast.

وطنية - أصدرت محكمة الإستئناف المدنية برئاسة القاضي نسيب إيليا وعضوية المستشارتين القاضيتين روزين حجيلي وميريام شمس الدين بالإتفاق، رد طلبات الرد المقدمة من النواب نهاد المشنوق وعلي حسن خليل وغازي زعيتر، والمتعلقة بكف يد المحقق العدلي القاضي طارق البيطار عن التحقيقات شكلا لعدم الإختصاص النوعي، وإلزام المستدعين طالبي الرد دفع غرامة مالية مقدارها 800 ألف ليرة عن كل واحد منهم، وفق ما افادت مندوبة "الوكالة الوطنية للاعلام".