BEIRUT – French judges visiting Beirut this week as a part of an investigation into a large port explosion in 2020 had been denied entry to paperwork from the Lebanese probe as a result of it stays frozen, a senior Lebanese judicial supply mentioned on Thursday.
The Lebanese investigation into the explosion that killed 220 individuals and shattered Beirut has been frozen for a yr, derailed by political resistance from ruling factions and authorized challenges in opposition to the lead investigator Decide Tarek Bitar.
The 2 French judges had been in Beirut as a part of an investigation opened by the French prosecutor’s workplace as a result of there have been French nationals among the many casualties, together with two lifeless, a French diplomatic supply mentioned.
Bitar advised the visiting judges he was unable to share data till he was allowed to renew his inquiry, the supply mentioned. He would have the ability share data not ruled by secrecy guidelines as soon as the probe resumed, the Lebanese supply added.
Reuters couldn't attain the judges for remark.
The explosion, some of the highly effective non-nuclear blasts on file, was brought on by tons of of tonnes of ammonium nitrate unloaded on the port in 2013.
Lebanese efforts to analyze the explosion have encountered robust political pushback.
IN LIMBO
Bitar has sought to query senior politicians, together with members of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s Amal Motion, Hassan Diab – prime minister on the time of the blast – and high safety official Main-Basic Abbas Ibrahim.
All of them, together with former ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zeaiter, have denied wrongdoing and mentioned Bitar doesn't have the ability to quiz them, arguing they've immunity.
The probe has been in full limbo since early 2022 as a result of retirement of judges from a courtroom that should rule on a number of complaints in opposition to Bitar, submitted by officers he has sought to query, earlier than he can proceed.
The highly effective Shi’ite group Hezbollah, a number of of whose allies are amongst these Bitar needs to query, has additionally opposed him.
A high Hezbollah official mentioned in 2021 the group would take away Bitar from the probe, whereas Hezbollah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah mentioned was biased and must be changed.
The courtroom of cassation eliminated Bitar’s predecessor, Decide Fadi Sawan, in 2021 following high-level political stress.
The Lebanese supply mentioned the French judges requested concerning the delay and when the probe would resume.
The French judges additionally met legal professionals representing households of the victims, who're campaigning for accountability, mentioned Cecile Roukoz, one of many legal professionals.
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