Saade brothers, Trial in Lebanon

Trial in Lebanon

Observing that the financial results of CMA-CGM were improving over the years, Johnny Saade felt that he made a bad deal in 2000 when he signed the settlement. So in 2004, he filed a lawsuit in Lebanon to cancel the settlement. Last June, unhappy with the fact that the trial was not going to be in his favor, Johnny Saade asked for the replacement of Judge Habib Mezher, who was in charge of the case. A few weeks before the 28th of June - the date when a Lebanese court was to pronounce its judgment in the case, Johnny Saade asked for the replacement. After the latter refused to quit, Johnny asked the Court of Cassation to transfer the trial to another court. On June 21st 2007, his claim was approved.

This should not be a surprise as Karim Saade, Johnny's son married in May 2007 with Tania Kheir, the niece of the First President of the Lebanon Court of Cassation, Antoine Kheir (see Albawaba from Sept. 5). The 67 year old magistrate was nominated during 2005.