The judge in charge of the case wants an investigation of three ministers

Justice begins to take an interest in policies in the search for the causes of the deadly explosion of August 4 in the port of Beirut. The judge leading the Lebanese investigation wants investigations to be carried out against three ministers for their possible responsibility in this disaster, announced Tuesday a judicial source.

Judge Fadi Sawan demanded in a letter to parliament – a body of which is empowered to prosecute members of the government – the opening of an investigation into the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Michel Najjar, as well as those of Finance , Ghazi Wazni, and Justice, Marie-Claude Najm. He also asked him to consider the role of several other people who have held the same ministerial positions in the three previous governments.

Refusal of an international investigation

The investigations which Judge Sawan himself carried out gave rise to “certain suspicions as to the responsibility of these ministers and their failures in the management of the presence in the port of ammonium nitrate” including the explosion of hundreds of tons killed more than 200 and injured thousands and devastated a large part of the capital, added this source. Lebanese officials have rejected the idea of ​​an international investigation into the case, despite calls in Lebanon and abroad for independent investigations.

The government resigned after the tragedy, but continues to deal with current affairs, as a new one has still not been able to be formed. As part of the ongoing investigation, 25 people have so far been arrested.