Report: Port probe shelved temporarily, perhaps permanently

The mission of Beirut port blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar has likely been shelved indefinitely and perhaps permanently, a senior legal source said.

The mission might be resumed during the next presidential tenure, the source added, in remarks to al-Liwaa newspaper published Tuesday.

“Finance Minister Youssef Khalil’s refusal to sign the decree forming the general commission of the Court of Cassation openly means that Speaker Nabih Berri and Hizbullah are insisting on preventing Bitar from continuing his mission,” the source added.

The August 4, 2020 monster explosion at Beirut’s port killed around 231 people, wounded around 7,000 and devastated entire neighborhoods of the capital.

Two incumbent MPs and ex-ministers belonging to Berri’s Amal Movement have refused to appear before Bitar for questioning.

The judge has also summoned former premier Hassan Diab, ex-ministers Youssef Fenianos and Nouhad al-Mashnouq and the heads of General Security and State Security.