Madi Demands Lifting Off Merehbi Immunity, MP Considers it 'Absurd'
General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi requested on Tuesday lifting immunity off al-Mustaqbal MP Moeen al-Merehbi a day after he allegedly opened fire at an ISF patrol in Tripoli.
Madi submitted the request to caretaker Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi, who in turn referred it to the parliament.
Merehbi allegedly fired shots in the air to disperse a bumper-to-bumper traffic in Beddawi region in the northern city of Tripoli on Sunday night caused by an Internal Security Forces unit, which was removing a building violation in the area.
Later, the lawmaker described in comments to MTV channel Madi's request as “ridiculous.”
“It doesn't deserve a reply from me and I'm ready to open fire again,” Merehbi said.
The lawmaker, according to a communique issued by ISF general directorate, arrived at the scene and demanded the ISF unit to remove the checkpoint as it was causing bumper-to-bumper traffic.
The officers explained to MP Merehbi their task, asking him to contact caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and address the matter with him.
The statement added that the MP started insulting the patrol then headed back to his car, took a Kalashnikov and opened fire in the air.
According to state-run National News Agency on Tuesday, the Kalashnikov was illegal.
The ISF communique said that Merehbi also attempted to remove one of the patrol cars, but the driver stopped him and the two men scuffled.
The statement said that an investigation was opened into the incident.
Earlier in the day, several MPs, including Mohammed Kabbara and Khaled al-Daher and Sheikhs held a meeting at the residence of Merehbi in Tripoli in solidarity with him.
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