Najjar to LBCI: the Investigating Judge has the right to request Kfoury’s presence

Former Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar said on Tuesday that the issue of Former minister Michel Samaha remains with the Military Court awaiting its transfer to the Judicial Council. Najjar described the Lebanese Judiciary move as "bold and unprecedented", adding through a phone interview with Nharkom Said on LBCI, that Samaha’s indictment should have followed his interrogation.

Najjar pointed that there will be no accusatory body before the military court with appeals going straight to the Court of Cassation.                

Najjar said that the Investigating Judge has the right to place his grip on the investigations; calling for its expansions should he see that the case may be related to other crimes. “The Judge has the authority to call for Kfoury’s presence for the investigation” Najjar added.             

On the possibility of calling the Syrian General Ali Mamlouk for questioning, Najjar stressed that articles 3 and 4 of the Judicial Convention between Lebanon and Syria organize all trials and logistics, however adding that Syria has the right to refuse to extradite the person sought. On the other hand  the same articles stipulate that the Syrian government investigate in to the referred persons background should Lebanon present a formal claim in the person’s name, Najjar concluded.