Wataniya - The Supreme Judicial Council issued the following statement: “Based on the statement issued by the Supreme Judicial Council on 5/8/2020, in which the Lebanese people pledged to work relentlessly, provided that the investigations into the explosion file that occurred on 4/8/2020 are completed on Port of Beirut, in order to reach the determination of the appropriate responsibilities against the perpetrators, and in view of the horror of the disaster that occurred and the tragic consequences it has generated on the country, the victims and their families, and on all citizens, and in light of the news, information and analysis that is circulating on the ongoing investigations, which may sometimes be inaccurate, the investigator saw Justice Judge Fadi Sawan said that it is necessary to inform public opinion about the procedures that have been carried out to date, to the extent permitted by law, and in a manner that does not contradict the binding principle of confidentiality of investigations, stipulated in the Code of Criminal Procedure.

- On 4/8/2020, a major explosion occurred in Beirut Port, resulting in massive and catastrophic damage to lives and property.

Immediately, investigations began under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor, Judge Ghassan Aweidat, and the Government Commissioner to the Military Court, acting Judge Fadi Akiki, according to the powers

- On 10/8/2020, the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation issued a statement in which he presented the pattern and scientific method he adopted in his approach to the case.

Investigations conducted by the Public Prosecutor resulted in the prosecution of 25 suspects.

- On 11/8/2020, a decree was issued by the Council of Ministers to refer the case to the Judicial Council.

On 12/8/2020, the forensic investigator was appointed.

- On Friday 8/14/2020, the judicial investigator will be informed of his appointment decision.

- On Monday, 8/17/2020, the judicial investigator began investigations and interrogations upon receiving the file, according to an action plan aimed at reaching the desired results and achieving the desired justice as soon as possible, but without haste, based on impartiality, professionalism and professionalism and not taking into account any considerations or "red lines" "Only do justice.

- To reach this goal, the forensic investigator, who continues to conduct investigations and study the file and the documents and reports it contains on a daily basis, follows a methodology that is distributed on the following two axes: The
first is to follow up the study of the crime scene and analyze all the data associated with it, whether in the field, laboratory, or technically and technically. And conducting the necessary investigations in this regard, especially the use of international and local expertise to help technically establish every possible cause of the explosion. In this context, the judicial investigator issued several international authorizations, and is awaiting the arrival of the French, American and British technical and laboratory reports for an answer to these assignments, in order to determine the causes that led to the explosion. He also issued local assignments to the Army Intelligence, Military Police, and the Information Division of the Internal Security Forces to reach the same goal.

The second, and in parallel with the first axis, is to follow up the conduct of interrogations and issue arrest warrants when necessary - the number of detainees has reached 25 up to the date, while the number of defendants reached 28 - and listen to witnesses whose number up to the date reached 31, starting from the prime minister to ministers, judges, general directors and heads of agencies Umniah ..., in a way that helps define responsibilities, at all levels.

The judicial investigator, while persevering in carrying out his work according to the presented methodology and with impartiality and professionalism, meets with the Supreme Judicial Council in the pledge he made, and in turn pledges to the Lebanese people to work to complete the investigations that he has undertaken in order to determine the responsibilities against the perpetrators, and that all the procedures and actions that he undertakes It aims to achieve this goal, and if it takes the time it assumes, it will lead to the desired result and achieve the desired justice. "