STL Asks Lebanese Public for Info on Accused from Hezbollah

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) has invited the Lebanese public to submit any information on the whereabouts of Hezbollah member Salim Ayyash to the court through an audio-visual and audio public service announcement, and as a poster with info on the accused in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

“In compliance with the President’s Order pursuant to Rule 76 (E) to effect service in the Prosecutor v Salim Jamil Ayyash case by procedures of public advertisement, and following the efforts undertaken by the Lebanese authorities to effect service, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is releasing an audio-visual and audio public service announcement as well as a poster with the biographical information of Mr. Salim Jamil Ayyash, accused in the Connected Case STL-18-10,” The Hague-based court said in a press release on Tuesday.

“This is part of the STL public advertisement campaign to inform the accused of the need to appear before the Tribunal and to invite the public to submit any information on the whereabouts of the accused to the STL. The poster and messages list the charges against Mr. Ayyash and phone numbers at which the public can contact the STL in case they have any information about his whereabouts.”

The Connected Case STL-18-10 relates to the attacks against Marwan Hamade, Georges Hawi and Elias El-Murr between 2004 and 2005.

“The Prosecutor alleges that Ayyash participated in the conspiracy aimed at committing a terrorist act; in the alternative to conspiracy of committing a terrorist act, criminal association; committing a terrorist act; intentional homicide with premeditation of Messrs Ghazi Abou-Karroum, Georges Hawi and Khaled Moura; and attempted intentional homicide with premeditation of Messrs Marwan Hamade and El-Murr as well as 17 other persons,” said the press release.

The public advertisement campaign follows STL President Ivana Hrdlickova’s finding that reasonable attempts have been made by the Lebanese authorities to effect personal service on the accused in this case, and those efforts have been unsuccessful to date.

Ayyash and three other defendants, Assad Sabra, Hussein Oneissi and Hassan Merhi are currently on trial in absentia for their alleged involvement in the 2005 attack that killed Hariri and 21 others in February 2005.

The four defendants are known to be members of Hezbollah but are on trial as individuals.