Ibrahim Charges MEAS with Negligence over Airport Tunnel Floods

Financial General Prosecutor Judge Ali Ibrahim charged on Thursday MEAS company with negligence and vandalism in the case of Airport road floods.

The state-run National News Agency reported that Ibrahim referred the case to the first military investigating judge in Mount Lebanon.

caretaker Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi, who resigned on Monday, had accused also MEAS company, which was awarded the maintenance and unclogging the airport tunnel, of failing to carry out its tasks.

However, the company said that it cleaned the tunnel's sewers in cooperation with the contractor.

The charges came after Judge Ibrahim questioned caretaker Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi on Thursday over corruption claims.

Safadi told reporters at the Justice Palace that he handed documents to Ibrahim, saying he didn't have any other session with him.

The state-run National News Agency said that the prosecutor will also question two other people linked to the case.

Ibrahim heard on Monday the testimony of Aridi over the same allegations after the two cabinet ministers traded accusations.

Aridi briefed Ibrahim on the details of a press conference he made earlier this month to accuse Safadi of withholding funds from his ministry for road maintenance in an effort to pressure him into approving a construction violation by the finance minister.

Aridi's accusations came after rainwater caused floods in Beirut streets, leaving thousands of motorists stranded for hours.

Safadi shrugged off the accusations that the finance ministry was responsible for the failure to perform maintenance on sewage networks.

Following his meeting with Ibrahim, Aridi announced that he “would cease his caretaker role from the cabinet and take a break from politics.”