Ghada Aoun (Arabic: غادة عون) is a Lebanese judge and Mount Lebanon state prosecutor.[1][2] While some see her as a prominent and incorruptible prosecutor,[3] others accuse her of bias towards the Free Patriotic Movement.[4]
Ghada Georges Aoun | |
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| Born | February 18, 1957[citation needed] |
| Nationality | Lebanese |
| Education |
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| Occupation |
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Cases
editCharges against Imad Osman for corruption
editIn 2019, Aoun sued the Internal Security Forces (ISF) Director Imad Osman, General Hussein Saleh as well as other officers on charges of corruption, in relation to their role in impeding her investigation of wasted subsidized dollars.[5][1][6]
Charges against Najib Mikati for illegitimate gains
editFormer PM Najib Mikati was accused of obtaining subsidized housing loans illegally, which should be given only to citizens who cannot afford houses. The charges also involved his son and brother, as well as Bank Audi. The accused were referred to the examining magistrate in Beirut for investigation.[7]
Ghada Aoun under disciplinary action
editA week after the case of Najib Mikati, Judge Aoun faced "disciplinary action", by State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat, who also urged the security institutions to stop referring cases to Aoun, who replied: “They don’t want me to complete the investigations. They want the thefts to continue”, and also claimed that Oueidat had been “eagerly waiting” for the opportunity to press charges against her for taking initiative in cases against corrupt authority figures.[7]
Hadi Hobeish banned from practicing the law for 3 months
editIn 2019, Aoun ordered the arrest of Hoda Salloum, the Director of the Traffic and Vehicles Management Authority (Nefaa, النافعة), who is the relative of MP and lawyer Hadi Hobeich, who in turn accused Aoun of corruption.[8] A video footage of Hobeich circulated while storming her office and threatening her. Beirut Investigative Judge Assaad Bayram banned the MP from practicing law or entering the Justice Palaces for 3 month.[9]
Charges against Riad Salameh for breach of trust
editIn 2021, Aoun charged Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh with job negligence and breach of trust.[10] The charges are reportedly in relation to Salameh's management of subsidized dollars.[11]
The 2021 raid on money exchange office
editAoun carried out a controversial raid on a money exchange company in Awkar, in defiance of a senior judiciary decision that denied her from that investigation, while she was accompanied by Free Patriotic Movement activists.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Mount Lebanon's state prosecutor, Judge Ghada Aoun, has filed a complaint against Maj. Gen. Imad Othman and Brig. Gen. Hussein Saleh on charges of breaching duty in relation to their role in impeding her investigation of wasted subsidized dollars, LBCI reports". L'Orient Today. 2020-12-18. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "من هي غادة عون السيرة الذاتية - ملك الجواب". www.kingjawab.com. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Lebanese judge files corruption charges against former prime minister Najib Mikati amid ongoing protests". alaraby. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Lebanese Judge Ghada Aoun Summoned for Questioning". Asharq AL-awsat. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Ghada Aoun dépose une plainte contre le directeur des FSI". L'Orient-Le Jour. 2020-12-19. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ December 18, 2020. "Judge Aoun Reportedly Sues ISF Chief in 'Subsidized Dollar' Case". Naharnet. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Yassine, Hussein (2019-10-31). "Why Mount Lebanon's Public Prosecutor is Under Disciplinary Action". The961. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Arrest warrant issued against Hoda Salloum". LBCI Lebanon. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "MP Hobeish banned from practicing law for three months | News, Lebanon News | THE DAILY STAR". www.dailystar.com.lb. Archived from the original on 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Lebanese central bank governor charged with breach of trust". Reuters. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ Yassine, Hussein (2021-01-28). "Lebanon's Central Bank Governor Was Just Charged". The961. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Defiant Lebanese judge stages second raid on money exchange". Arab News. 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-04-19.