STL Confirms Submitting Indictment, Arrest Warrant(s) to Lebanese Authorities

Special Tribunal for Lebanon Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen confirmed on June 28 an indictment relating to the 2005 assassination of Rafik Hariri and others, STL's press office announced in a statement.

"The indictment and accompanying arrest warrant(s) were transmitted to the Lebanese authorities on 30 June, 2011," the press office noted.

"This announcement follows a declaration by the Lebanese authorities that they have received a confirmed indictment," the office said, noting that "the confirmation of the indictment means that Fransen is satisfied that there is prima facie evidence for this case to proceed to trial."

The STL stressed that the announcement was "not a verdict of guilt and any accused person is presumed innocent unless his or her guilt is established at trial."

"At this time, the STL has no comment on the identity or identities of the person or persons named in the indictment," the tribunal's press office noted.

"Judge Fransen has ruled that the indictment shall remain confidential in order to assist the Lebanese authorities in fulfilling their obligations to arrest the accused," it went on to say.

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1757 and the provisions of its annexes are clear on the steps that must be taken by the Lebanese authorities, added the statement.

"These include the service of the indictment on the accused person or persons, their arrest and detention, as well as their transfer to the STL."

Under the STL’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence, the Lebanese authorities have to report to the STL on the measures that they have taken to arrest the accused, at least within 30 days of the transmission of the indictment.

STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare submitted an indictment, for review by Fransen, on January 17, 2011 and subsequently amended it three times – on March 11, May 6, and June 10, 2011 (the latter at the request of the Pre-Trial Judge).