Diab’s Interrogation Suspended, Mashnouq Sues State to Suspend Tomorrow’s Session

Lead investigator in the Beirut port blast Judge Tarek Bitar suspended Thursday a scheduled session for hearing ex-Prime Minister Hassan Diab's testimony after the latter filed a lawsuit that will pause his prosecution until a decision is made.

On Wednesday, one day before his scheduled session, Diab filed a lawsuit against the state.

Ex-minister and incumbent MP Nouhad al-Mashnouq also filed a lawsuit today against the state.

Al-Mashnouq’s session is scheduled on October 29. The suit will prevent Bitar from interrogating him until a decision is made.

Last month al-Mashnouq’s interrogation was suspended after he filed a dismissal request against Bitar accusing him of bias. The legal complaint temporary suspended the investigation.

Ex-ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zoaiter, also charged with negligence, filed a lawsuit Wednesday before the Court of Cassation.

The three former ministers and incumbent MPs Mashnouq, Khalil and Zoaiter, along with ex-minister Youssef Finianos, have repeatedly filed requests to dismiss Bitar, but the Court of Cassation and the Court of Appeals dismissed the lawsuits.