Kataeb party chief Samy Gemayel posted on his account on Twitter excerpts from the an interview with Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq via “Lal Nacher” TV show, where the minister revealed that around 60 to 70 detainees out of 90, who were detained after being involved in celebratory gunfire, were released from having political backgrounds.
Gemayel asked the minister via Twitter: Is this true Mr. Minister?
Minister al-Mashnouq quickly replied saying: “Yes it is true, the interference were done by politicians with the judiciary.”
Consequently, Gemayel congratulated al-Mashnouq on his courage for admitting that over 60 detainees were released due to politicians’ intervention, after they were detained on charges of being engaged in celebratory gunfire.
In a video he shared on his Twitter page, Gemayel said that “the people have the right to know the identity of these politicians who covered such acts.”
For his part, Justice Minister Salim Jreissati declared that the statement attributed to Interior Minister al-Mashnouq concerning the release of suspects who were shooting in the air for celebration, for having political background, is completely untrue.
The minister said that some were released for lack of evidence of involvement, noting that others remained in detention awaiting their trial.
A statement issued by Jreissati’s media office stressed that fighting security chaos is a national responsibility, pointing out that the concerned judiciary abides by the laws and seeks to put an end to the phenomenon of celebratory gunfire that has killed several innocent people.