Audit Bureau Refers Red Diesel Report to General Prosecution

The head of the Audit Bureau Judge Aouni Ramadan stated on Monday that the bureau will pursue the issue of red diesel scandal in Lebanon until it is resolved.

He revealed to the National News Agency that the Bureau had referred a report on the case to the General Prosecution.

“Those involved in the scandal will be put on trial,” he added.

He emphasized the importance of the participation of the finance, economy, energy, and economy ministers and MPs from the rival political camps in this issue.

The head of the Audit Bureau had held a meeting earlier on Monday with Prime Minister Najib Miqati during which he informed him of the Bureau’s progress in investigating the red diesel scandal.

Meanwhile, Parliament’s Finance and Budget Committee convened on Monday to listen to the statements of concerns ministers and audit agencies on the red diesel scandal.

It was attended by Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi, Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas, Audit Bureau members, including Ramadan, and oil sector officials.

The head of the Finance and Budget Committee MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the meeting that the scandal will be followed up meticulously until it is resolved.

“The meeting was positive and the discussions were calm and honest,” he added.

“I hope future meetings will be the same,” he remarked.

He revealed that more reports on the red diesel scandal are expected to be handed to the committee and it will schedule another meeting until after it addresses these reports.

“We hope the next meeting will be the final one after which all the details of the scandal will be revealed to the public,” stressed the MP.

“Political cover will not be granted to whoever is involved in this case and the facts will be disclosed,” Kanaan said.

“Public administrations are not arenas for passing illegal deals, the citizens will not be neglected, and parliament will perform its duties,” he stated.

The scandal erupted after shortages in the household heating fuel exposed deals made on January 18 - the last day of the government’s one-month subsidy of LL3,000 per jerry can - that included the sale of huge amounts of red diesel to oil distribution companies.

The companies have reportedly made millions of dollars in profits after selling an alleged 8 million liters at a nonsubsidized price after the end of the subsidy period.

Energy Minister Jebran Bassil and Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas have launched separate investigations into the case.