Mustaqbal MPs: Those with History of Squandering Funds Musn’t Accuse Others of Such Crimes
Mustaqbal bloc MPs Hadi Hbeish and Jamal al-Jarrah accused on Monday the Free Patriotic Movement of misleading the public over former Premier Fouad Saniora’s alleged financial violations in the national lottery in 1996.
They said in a press conference to refute the movement’s claims: “FPM leader MP Michel Aoun has no right to speak of squandering public funds because those who have a history in such affairs are not entitled to accuse others of such crimes.”
The MPs added that the Audit Bureau’s accusations of financial violations against Finance Ministry employees “are based on wrong figures as it has not been proven that they squandered public funds.”
This decision is politically motivated, stressed the Mustaqbal MPs.
Jarrah revealed that Saniora had formed a follow-up committee to verify the facts in the allegations that he committed financial violations.
“We will bring up the violations in the electricity and telecommunications sectors to reveal to the public the sides that are actually keen on preserving state funds,” he said.
Al-Akhbar newspaper had published a report on December 20 accusing Saniora of committing financial violations in the national lottery in 1996, “which consequently led to the squandering of LL5 billion from the state treasury.”
MP Michel al-Helou had stated at a press conference after the Change and Reform bloc’s weekly meeting on Tuesday: “Parliament should take a position from this matter and Saniora should be held accountable for his violations.”
“He should be tried before the supreme council for the trial of presidents and ministers,” he added.
The bloc is considering requesting the withdrawal of Saniora’s political immunity, he revealed.
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