Friday, October 11, 2013

STL requests that the Lebanese authorities take further steps to advertise new accused

Beirut, 11 October 2013 – Representatives of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon delivered today posters of Hassan Habib Merhi to the Lebanese authorities for the purpose of public advertisement. Mr. Merhi is accused of being involved in the 14 February 2005 Beirut attack.

According to the Tribunal's rules, the Lebanese authorities are requested to advertise the poster in the media to notify the public and to call on the accused to surrender to the Tribunal. The information given to the Lebanese authorities includes the biographical details of Mr. Merhi along with two identifying photographs.
The STL Prosecution's case and charges against Mr. Merhi are outlined in the publicly redacted version of the indictment.
 
A high resolution of the poster can be found on the STL Flickr account.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

STL Indicts Hassan Habib Merhi in 14 February 2005 Beirut attac

Leidschendam, 10 October 2013 – The Pre-Trial Judge of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has confirmed an indictment against Hassan Habib Merhi who is accused of being involved in the 14 February 2005 Beirut attack.

The confirmed indictment and an arrest warrant were transmitted confidentially to the Lebanese authorities on 6 August so that they could search for, arrest and transfer the accused to STL custody.

The Lebanese authorities were given 30 calendar days to carry out this obligation and report back on their efforts by 5 September 2013.

On 6 September, the Lebanese Prosecutor General submitted his confidential report to the Tribunal's President, Judge Sir David Baragwanath, stating that so far the accused has not been found. Subsequently, the STL President requested additional measures be taken by the Lebanese authorities.

All of these steps have been confidential until now to allow the Lebanese authorities the best opportunity to apprehend the accused.

Under the current circumstances in Lebanon, the STL President has deemed the efforts by the Lebanese authorities to be sufficient to justify alternative means to search for the accused. As a result, the STL President has determined to initiate a 30-day public advertisement phase with the help of the Lebanese authorities to locate the accused as well as to inform him of the charges against him and of his rights, which are guaranteed under international law.

The STL President also calls on the Lebanese authorities to "reinvigorate and intensify their efforts to apprehend" the accused.
Lebanon has an ongoing obligation under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1757 to search for, arrest and transfer the accused to STL custody.

The STL Prosecution's case and charges against Mr Merhi are outlined in the publically redacted version of the indictment.

Four other individuals have been indicted by the STL for their alleged role in the 14 February 2005 attack: Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, Assad Hassan Sabra. The Pre Trial judge has set tentatively 13 January 2014 as the first day of trial for these four accused.

Prosecutor Farrell welcomes the Pre-Trial Judge’s Decisions Confirming the Indictment against Hassan Habib Merhi and Lifting confidentiality

Leidschendam, 10 October 2013 – Today, Prosecutor Norman Farrell welcomed the public announcement of the indictment against Hassan Habib Merhi for his alleged role in the 14 February 2005 attack that claimed the life of former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafik Hariri, as well as 21 other victims, and injured 226 people.
The Prosecutor's indictment against the accused Hassan Habib Merhi was confirmed by the Pre-Trial Judge of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on 31 July 2013, following the request of the Prosecutor on 5 June 2013.
"The Office of the Prosecutor continues its efforts to fully investigate and prosecute those alleged to be responsible for the attack on 14 February 2005. Recognizing that all suspects are presumed innocent and have the right to a full defence, the Prosecution is working towards accountability, preparing to present reliable and credible evidence to the Trial Chamber" noted Prosecutor Farrell.
The accused, Hassan Habib Merhi, is charged with a number of crimes including the crime of conspiracy aimed at committing a terrorist act. He is alleged to have acted in a conspiracy with Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Salim Jamil Ayyash, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra in relation to the attack on 14 February 2005, all of whom have already been indicted. The accused Merhi is alleged to have coordinated the preparation of the purported claim of responsibility as part of the preparations for and in furtherance of, the attack.
The Prosecutor stated that "my Office remains committed to working at full capacity to bring perpetrators to justice and, by doing so, to achieve a just result for the victims".
The public redacted version of the indictment can be found on the STL website.