STL Spokesman Confirms Bellemare has Additional Evidence
Special Tribunal for Lebanon spokesman Marten Youssef stressed on Thursday that the indictment has a supplement that wasn’t released to keep the identity of witnesses and the investigation confidential.
“There is a part of the indictment that the pre-trial judge (Daniel Fransen) decided to keep confidential, especially in the matters that would affect the witnesses, investigations and the victims,” Youssef told al-Okaz Saudi newspaper.
The STL probing the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri unsealed large parts of the indictment in August accusing four Hizbullah members in the February 14, 2005 bombing. They are Mustafa Badreddin, Salim Ayyash, Assad Sabra and Hussein Onaissi.
He confirmed that Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare will present additional evidence during the trial.
The STL official told the newspaper: “Publishing big part of the indictment is a right judicial step taken by the pre-trial judge, that shouldn’t be confidential according to the tribunal bylaws.”
Youssef stressed “when the Lebanese authorities informed the STL that they weren’t able to arrest the suspects, the pre-trial judge decided to publicize the indictment.”
Asked about the monthly report that STL’s president, Judge Antonio Cassese, asked from Prosecutor Saeed Mirza to submit, the spokesman said: “We can’t presume or suppose that the Lebanese authorities will not issue the monthly report over pursuing the suspects.”
He said that the STL will not force any measures to track the suspects; however, if the Lebanese authorities weren’t able to achieve any result then Judge Cassesse can refer to the U.N. Security Council.
Concerning the possibility of heading to a trial in absentia, Youssef noted that there are several stages before reaching that point.
The STL was created by a 2007 Security Council resolution, at Lebanon's request, to try those responsible for Hariri's assassination. Hariri was killed in a suicide truck bombing along with 22 other people including the bomber.
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