STL: It’s Possible for Lebanese Judiciary to Deal with False Witnesses

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon stressed on Thursday that the so-called false witnesses issue was not under its jurisdiction, shortly after Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the government should deal with the file.

Testimony given to the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission “before the STL existed, is not under our jurisdiction,” the tribunal said on twitter.

“If giving misleading testimony to UNIIIC is a crime under Lebanese law, it might be possible for Lebanese judiciary to prosecute,” it tweeted.

In a televised speech, Nasrallah urged Premier Najib Miqati to address the issue of false witnesses and refer it to the Higher Judicial Council.

The false witnesses have reportedly misled U.N. investigators probing ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s Feb. 2005 assassination.

Also Thursday, the tribunal thanked the Lebanese government for the full payment of Lebanon’s 2011 share.

“With this contribution of US32,184,635, the representatives of the Lebanese people have demonstrated their commitment to work for the rule of law and long-term stability,” it stressed.

“We look forward to the continuing cooperation of Lebanon as we work towards completing our judicial mandate,” the tribunal added.