Investigation continues into MEA deal

Investigations continued Tuesday in what has come to be known as the Middle East Airlines scandal, after Prosecutor-General Adnan Addoum seized records of recent company board meetings.

The prosecution is focusing on determining whether an alleged lease of three Airbuses from Singapore Airlines for excessive fees in June were approved by MEA's board of directors.

MEA officials are thought to have cashed huge amounts of money in the form of commissions for sub-leasing the planes.

MEA chairman Khaled Salam and his son Salim were summoned Tuesday along, with general manager Yousef Lahoud and aviation engineer Baha' Tamim, for questioning at the prosecutor's office.

Only one suspect, Marwan Bardawil, is in custody so far. Bardawil, a Lebanese businessman, is owner of Bardawil Aviation Offshore Company in Dubai.

Judicial sources said they expected Bardawil to be either charged or released in light of the new information. His lawyers on Monday produced documents which they claim clear their client from all suspicion and prove he was not involved in the MEA deal with Singapore Airlines. He has twice pleaded innocent and demanded his release in the past week.

Addoum told a press conference Monday he was keeping Bardawil in custody until enough evidence builds up to establish his innocence.