Lebanese ex-minister files complaint to remove Beirut blast judge

Fenianos accuses Judge Bitar of ‘abnormal behaviour’ and ‘double standards’ after the judge issued his arrest warrant.

Beirut, Lebanon – The lawyers of a Lebanese former minister have filed a legal request to remove the judge looking into the Beirut port blast investigation over “legitimate suspicion”.

The petition by the former public works minister, Youssef Fenianos, came on Wednesday, a week after Judge Tarek Bitar issued an arrest warrant for Fenianos who refused to turn up for questioning.

In a statement, Fenianos said the issuing of the arrest warrant was “illegal” and accused Bitar of “abnormal behaviour” and “double standards” while conducting the investigation.