Leidschendam, 18 August 2011 - The President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Judge Antonio Cassese, has ruled that public advertisement of the indictment is now necessary. This must take place before a decision about in absentia proceedings can be taken.
The recent report by the Lebanese authorities on the steps that they have taken to search for the accused was also assessed by the STL President. Whilst Judge Cassese deemed their efforts to be reasonable he also called on the authorities to intensify their attempts to arrest the accused. The Lebanese Prosecutor General is now required to report to the Tribunal on a monthly basis.
"It must be emphasised, however, that the report submitted by Lebanon on 9 August 2011 does not end Lebanon's continuing obligation to assist the Tribunal in searching for, serving, arresting, detaining and transferring the accused," said Judge Cassese.
The report filed by the Lebanese prosecutor general states that Lebanon "exerted its utmost efforts to execute [the] arrest warrants in the name of the four accused". Those efforts were unsuccessful.
The steps taken by the Lebanese authorities, as outlined by the prosecutor general, include surveillance, interviewing alleged associates of the accused, visiting localities where the accused are believed to have connections, meeting with municipality officials and interviewing neighbours.
"I understand these procedures satisfy the requirements of Article 147 of the Lebanese Code of Criminal Procedure," said Judge Cassese.
The STL Registrar will now transmit "a form of advertisement" to the Lebanese authorities. He will also consider other means of disseminating the indictment in Lebanon as well as in other countries.
The recent report by the Lebanese authorities on the steps that they have taken to search for the accused was also assessed by the STL President. Whilst Judge Cassese deemed their efforts to be reasonable he also called on the authorities to intensify their attempts to arrest the accused. The Lebanese Prosecutor General is now required to report to the Tribunal on a monthly basis.
"It must be emphasised, however, that the report submitted by Lebanon on 9 August 2011 does not end Lebanon's continuing obligation to assist the Tribunal in searching for, serving, arresting, detaining and transferring the accused," said Judge Cassese.
The report filed by the Lebanese prosecutor general states that Lebanon "exerted its utmost efforts to execute [the] arrest warrants in the name of the four accused". Those efforts were unsuccessful.
The steps taken by the Lebanese authorities, as outlined by the prosecutor general, include surveillance, interviewing alleged associates of the accused, visiting localities where the accused are believed to have connections, meeting with municipality officials and interviewing neighbours.
"I understand these procedures satisfy the requirements of Article 147 of the Lebanese Code of Criminal Procedure," said Judge Cassese.
The STL Registrar will now transmit "a form of advertisement" to the Lebanese authorities. He will also consider other means of disseminating the indictment in Lebanon as well as in other countries.
Source: STL Release
No comments:
Post a Comment