Qortbawi Slams Politicians and Journalists for 'Issuing Verdicts' before Judiciary
Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi criticized politicians and the media for interfering in judicial cases, saying investigations should remain confidential until indictments are issued.
In remarks to An Nahar daily published on Sunday, Qortbawi said: “The probe into any judicial case should remain secret until an indictment is issued.”
“Any leak (of information) is punishable by law,” he stressed.
“Some politicians and journalists are dealing with judicial cases linked to political incidents as if they are the ones investigating them and issuing verdicts,” the minister told An Nahar.
According to Qortbawi, such interference in the judicial work puts “unacceptable moral pressure on the judges, and harms the judiciary and Lebanon.”
He said only an “independent judge” guarantees a fair verdict in all circumstances and no matter how the political situation changed in the country.
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