Fransen Orders Lifting of Confidentiality on Names, Photos of Hariri Murder Suspects

Special Tribunal for Lebanon Pre-trial judge Daniel Fransen ordered the lifting of confidentiality on the full names and aliases, biographical information, photographs and charges against the Hizbullah members named in last month’s indictment, the STL said in a statement on Friday.

The four individuals named in the June 28 indictment in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s Feb. 2005 assassination are Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Hussein Hassan Oneissi and Assad Hassan Sabra, said the STL.

“The order states that Prosecutor Daniel A. Bellemare, after consultations with the Lebanese Prosecutor General, indicated that lifting the confidentiality of this information does not contradict Lebanese law with regard to executing arrests.

“According to the order, Prosecutor Bellemare stated that making the information available to the public may increase the likelihood of the accused being apprehended,” the statement said.

“The remaining text of the indictment and the individual redacted versions for each accused will remain confidential at this stage,” it added.

The deadline for Lebanese authorities to report on the progress made in carrying out the arrest warrants is on Aug. 11. “The Lebanese authorities have an ongoing responsibility to arrest, detain, and transfer the accused,” the STL said.

Fransen issued international arrest warrants against the accused on July 8. He authorized the Office of the Prosecutor to provide Interpol with the necessary information to issue a “red notice” against each accused.