STL: Bellemare Hands In Amended Indictment to Fransen with an Expanded Scope as Investigations Continue

Local Editor

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) announced in a press release, that as a result of the gathering and analysis of further evidence, STL General Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare filed on Friday an amended indictment to STL Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen.

The General Prosecutor Office press release stated, "This amendment expands on the scope of the indictment filed on January 17, 2011 in connection with the attack on former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and others on February 14, 2005".

Regarding the possibility of amending the indictment by Pre-Trial Judge Fransen at any time is provided by Rule 71A (i) of the STL Rules of Procedures and Evidence.

According to the press release, Bellemare has state that "The Pre-Trial Judge's Order of January 19, 2011 on non-disclosure of the confidential indictment should apply equally to the amended indictment and supporting materials".

The press release added, "Their unauthorized disclosure could, therefore, be considered as interference with the Tribunal's administration of justice amounting to contempt of the Tribunal in violation of Rule 60 bis(A)".

Bellemare's offices further pointed out that the investigations continue, so they would meet "the evidentiary threshold required at trial and to be able to bring to justice others who may be responsible for the attack".