STL Dismisses Charges against Al-Jadeed over Jurisdiction, Khayat's Trial to Continue

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon ruled on Thursday that trying al-Jadeed television over contempt does not fall into its jurisdiction, dismissing hence the charges filed against the TV network.

“The tribunal does not have the jurisdiction to look into the charges issued against al-Jadeed TV,” STL Contempt Judge Nicola Lettieri announced during an STL session in The Hague.

“Rule 60 bis applies to natural persons only and not corporate entities,” he explained, adding that the “preferable way to interpret Rule 60 bis is to limit the Tribunal’s jurisdiction to natural persons.”

Judge Lettieri also considered that “any ambiguities in the interpretation of the Rules should be resolved in favor of the accused.”

Accordingly, the Amicus Curiae Prosecutor is now ordered to submit an amended order in lieu of an indictment that removes all references to al-Jadeed, the STL said.

But Lettieri noted that the STL accepted the preliminary motions in the al-Jadeed case.

Karim Khan, who is Counsel for New TV S.A.L and Khayat, pledged following the ruling to respect the law and remarked that the judge is the person in charge of ruling in this case.

“Any reference against al-Jadeed in these charges will be dropped,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the trial of al-Jadeed journalist Karma al-Khayat is still continuing, STL spokesman Martin Youssef told LBCI television.

Khayat and al-Akhbar daily's editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin and their media organizations New TV S.A.L. and Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. had been charged with contempt by the tribunal after they disclosed details of alleged STL witnesses.

The initial hearing in the contempt case was held on May 13 at the STL's headquarters in The Hague, amid the absence of al-Amin who later appeared before the court via video conference.

Al-Jadeed TV Director General Dimitry Khodr and Karma al-Khayat, the deputy head of news at the station, entered pleas of not guilty during that hearing.

Khan indicated also on May 13 that al-Jadeed's Defense will challenge the jurisdiction with respect to the charges against the corporation.

The STL has indicted five Hizbullah members for involvement in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's Feb. 2005 assassination.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah dismissed the court as a U.S.-Israeli scheme against his group and vowed that the accused will never be found.

S.D.B.

Y.R.