Bellemare Submits Amended Indictment to Fransen Containing 'Further Evidence'
Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare on Friday filed an "amended indictment" for confirmation by STL Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen "as a result of the gathering and analysis of further evidence," the Office of the Prosecutor announced in a press release.
"This amendment expands on the scope of the indictment filed on January 17, 2011 in connection with the attack on former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and others on February 14, 2005," the OTP noted.
The possibility for the Prosecutor to amend an indictment, without leave, at any time before its confirmation, is specifically provided for by Rule 71A (i) of the Tribunal's Rules of Procedure and Evidence, the OTP clarified.
Bellemare "has submitted that the Pre-Trial Judge's Order of January 19, 2011 on non-disclosure of the confidential indictment should apply equally to the amended indictment and supporting materials," according to the press release.
"Their unauthorized disclosure could, therefore, be considered as interference with the Tribunal's administration of justice amounting to contempt of the Tribunal in violation of Rule 60 bis(A)."
Reiterating Bellemare's remarks contained in STL's 2010-2011 Annual Report, which has been recently published, the OTP noted that "the investigation continues in order to meet the evidentiary threshold required at trial and to be able to bring to justice others who may be responsible for the attack."
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