Prosecution's indictment completed in Beirut port explosion case
by L'Orient Today · L'Orient TodayBEIRUT — The indictment in the case of the Aug. 4, 2020 Beirut port explosions has been completed and could be submitted as early as Monday to investigating Judge Tarek Bitar, a high-ranking judicial source told L'Orient Today.
Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation Mohammad Saab, who prepared the indictment, is expected to submit it to Bitar, who is in charge of the case, according to our information. Saab had been tasked with studying the file and preparing the public prosecution’s requirements first by former Prosecutor General Jamal Hajjar, and then by the current head of the prosecutor’s office, Ahmad Rami al-Hajj, after Bitar had closed his investigation.
The families of the victims of the explosion are waiting to learn when Judge Bitar will issue the indictment. According to our information, he is expected to do so shortly, although the timing will depend on the content of the prosecution’s closing argument. If the investigating judge’s entire file is approved, the indictment could be issued much sooner than if, for example, the prosecution were to request clarification on a specific point, seek charges against a person not named by Bitar, or ask him to expand the investigation to include a particular fact.
In any case, Bitar’s decision is expected shortly, according to information we obtained. In the meantime, he is expected to take certain measures, including executing arrest warrants against some of the defendants.
The port explosion was caused by a fire that ignited hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored for years without adequate safety measures. The investigation has been stalled since the tragedy after being subjected to numerous instances of political interference.
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