Bellemare Wants to Delay Trials in Absentia Pending New Indictment
Leidschendam, Naharnet Exclusive: Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare is preparing for a new surprise that he hinted in a document he submitted to the court last week ahead of a hearing on Friday on whether proceedings in absentia against four Hizbullah members were appropriate.
The four members - Salim Ayyash, Mustafa Badreddine, Hussein Oneissi, and Assad Sabra - are wanted for the Feb. 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and 22 others.
High-ranking STL sources told Naharnet that Bellemare believes it is premature to begin a trial in absentia because his investigations have revealed the names of more suspects involved in the murders and assassination attempts that targeted Lebanese personalities between 2004 and 2005.
The sources said the prosecutor has reached a stage of issuing a new indictment that includes his probe’s new findings.
According to information received by Naharnet, the list of new suspects most likely includes names of people who are active on several fronts and whose places of residence are known which would prevent them from going into hiding or for influential political parties in Lebanon or in more than one regional country from protecting them.
Source: Naharnet
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