BEIRUT: Judge Fadi Sawan, the judicial investigator in the Beirut Port bombing file, Tuesday summoned Lebanons caretaker public works minister as well as the heads of the State Security and General Security agencies to hear their witness testimonies in regards to the deadly Aug.4 explosion at Beirut Port.

Sawwan sought to ascertain why no action had been taken to remove the 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in warehouse 12 at the facility.

If they are suspected of negligence, they will then become defendants in the case, judicial sources told The Daily Star.

Last week it was reported that 25 suspects had already been questioned in the probe and were in the custody of Lebanese authorities.

The questioning of Public Works Minister Michel Najjar and head of State Security Maj. Gen. Tony Saliba is set to take place Thursday.

Sawan will hear the testimony of the head of General Security Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim next Monday according to judicial sources.

The two security agencies, along with the Army and Lebanon's Customs authority, are the main bodies responsible for overseeing security at the port.

Sawan Monday heard the testimonies of four other key witnesses: former Army intelligence official in the port retired Brig. Gen. Marwan Eid, head of the Presidency Guard Company Maj. Muhammad Abdullah, Cpt. in State Security Khalil Aoun, and retired Sgt. Ghassan Ghassani.

Two officials at the port, Gerges al-Mudawar and Adel Nassar, are also set to be questioned Wednesday.

Sawan reportedly rejected a request submitted by the Director General of Customs Badri Daher, who has been arrested as part of the investigations, to be transferred from Rayhaniyah prison to a detention facility operated by Lebanese Customs as no such facility exists.

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