Activists released after posting bail
- Prominent Tripoli activist Rabih El Zein was released Tuesday after having been arrested for vandalism and blocking roads, despite Judge Ghada Aoun’s attempt to appeal his release.
- Hassan Yassine, arrested and transferred to the military court last week, was also released. He had been initially accused of having a molotov cocktail. The Lawyers’ Committee for the Defense of Protesters stated that Yassine was made to pay one million Lebanese pounds in bail.
- In Taalbaya, in the Beqaa, several protesters were arrested Tuesday and were only released after paying an amount of 215,000 LL in bail each.
Journalist to be tried in criminal court on Wednesday
- Journalist Moussa Assi will be called in for trial before the criminal court in Beirut’s Justice Palace on Wednesday. Assi was sued by the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council and Randa Berri, wife of Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, on charges of libel and slander for posts he published on his Facebook account alleging corruption.
- The Editors Syndicate denounced the practice of trying “violations of opinion” cases outside the Publications Court, and the Alternative Journalists Syndicate called for a sit—in at the Justice Palace in solidarity with Assi.
Protesters attacked by MP’s bodyguards
- Free Patriotic Movement MP Ziad Aswad was accosted by half a dozen protesters in Antelias at the Diwan restaurant Tuesday evening. The demonstrators attempted to pressure Aswad into leaving but were met with violence by his bodyguards.
A first, depositor in the Beqaa wins case against bank
- Mohamad Abdel Rahman has successfully sued and won his case against his bank on Tuesday after the Beqaa Appeals Court ruled in his favor.
- Abdel Rahman had filed a complaint against his bank for not allowing him to pay his dues—$166,000— to Chinese companies supplying his merchandise for Valentine’s Day.
- The bank filed a countersuit to block the first ruling, but it was overruled. The bank, however, has yet to release the funds necessary and Abdel Rahman has filed a second lawsuit with the Court of Cassation.
Bangladeshi workers line—up at embassy’s doors for exit visa
- Around 400 Bangladeshi migrant workers gathered outside the Bangladesh Embassy on Tuesday to have their exit visas expedited. The embassy, however, closed its doors and police were called to violently push back the crowd.
- The dollar shortage and worsening economic crisis has directly affected migrant workers’ livelihoods, with many losing their jobs and remaining unable to secure new ones. Scores of domestic migrant workers have also been leaving the country as their employers are unable to pay their owed salaries.
- Although the Bangladeshi Embassy and the Lebanese General Security have reached an agreement to process expedited exit visas, the administrative strain put by the exceeding demand has stagnated the process.
Oil spill contaminates water near Zouk plant
- After a fuel pipe allegedly burst on the Fatmagul power ship, a 10-centimeter-thick slick formed in the water. The Fatmagul ship was fueling the Zouk power plant.
- In a statement, the Fatmagul denied responsibility for the fuel spill, saying that it had “nothing to do” with the pipe.
- The Electricte du Liban said that the Civil Defense Marine Rescue Unit successfully cleaned the majority of the spill on Tuesday morning.
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