Miqati Warns Higher Relief Council Chief: Your Accusations Are Punishable by Law

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati warned the Higher Relief Council's chief on Saturday that the “haphazard accusations” Ibrahim Bashir voiced a day earlier are punishable by law.

“What you said violates the law that stipulates you are not allowed to give any statements before taking a permission from your immediate superior,” Miqati told Bashir in an open letter.

“Your statement lacks morality.”

He added: “What you said also contradicts with the regulations that govern the work of the HRC, because, as you know, there are no relations between the Council and the position you used to hold and the premiership or the cabinet's secretary-general.”

Bashir had denied on Friday that he has embezzled USD 10 million from public funds, accusing the caretaker premier and the cabinet's secretary-general of trying to “eliminate him.”

He elaborated to al-Manar television: “Since I took office there hasn't been harmony with the cabinet's secretary-general, Suhail Bouji, because the Council strives now to serve all the Lebanese while they want it to cater to Sunnis only.”

"After I took office, I made sure the HRC serves all the Lebanese,” Bashir told LBCI television.

Miqati revealed in his open letter that the council of ministers' directorate-general and its secretary-general will take the necessary “legal and judicial measures and procedures towards (Bashir's) irresponsible defamation.”

“Launching haphazard accusations is punishable by the penal code and it is a desperate attempt to change the case's path."

He continued: “It is also a failed attempt to politicize and doubt the investigation committee's decision that is probing the incident.”

“Your statement also incites sectarian and regional tensions.”

Miqati stressed that a copy of this “warning” will be sent to the Public Prosecution, along with Bashir's statement, for investigation.