Explosion of the port of Beirut: new arrest warrant against a former minister
The port of Beirut one year after the deadly explosion of August 4, 2020. REUTERS - MOHAMED AZAKIR
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The magistrate in charge of the investigation into the double explosion in the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, issued an arrest warrant in absentia against a former Minister of Public Works.
Youssef Fenianos, prosecuted for "alleged intention of homicide, negligence and breaches", did not appear on Thursday at the summons of judge Tarek Bitar.
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With our correspondent in Beirut,
Paul Khalifeh
Youssef Fenianos is now a fugitive wanted by the courts.
But the former minister will not be arrested anytime soon, as he is under the protection of Sleiman Frangié, a former deputy and minister and head of an influential Christian political family.
Sleiman Frangié has also expressed his solidarity with his main lieutenant, assuring him, in a tweet, of his “
support
” in what he called his “
legitimate defense
”.
This is not the first time that Youssef Fenianos has refused to appear before Judge Tarek Bitar, citing formal flaws in the
legal procedure
.
He is supported in this by Parliament, which reminded the magistrate on Thursday that a minister does not appear before a criminal court, but before a special court responsible for trying ministers and senior state officials.
A court which, let us remember, has never judged anyone.
The refusal of the former Minister of Public Works to appear before the judge angered the families of the victims of the port tragedy, who were demonstrating in front of the courthouse.
On September 14, ex-Prime Minister
Hassane Diab
, who is also the subject of prosecution as part of the investigation, flew to the United States as an arrest warrant was issued against him the same day.
The double explosion of the
port of Beirut
on August 4, 2020 left 215 dead, 6,500 injured and destroyed part of the Lebanese capital,
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Lebanon
Justice