STL: Rulings on Connectivity and Deferral Mark New Chapter in the OTP’s Work

Following on Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen’s rulings on connectivity and deferral, the Office of the Prosecutor looks forward to receiving the relevant files from the Lebanese authorities in relation to the attacks against former ministers Marwan Hamadeh and Elias al-Murr and assassination of former Lebanese Communist Party leader Georges Hawi, said the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in a statement.

“The Pre-Trial Judge’s decisions mark a new chapter in the Office of the Prosecutor’s work,” it stated.

“They are the first findings on jurisdiction for connected cases under Article 1 of the STL Statute,” it continued.

“As a result of the deferral decisions, the Prosecutor’s office will have exclusive jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute these cases,” it noted.

The Lebanese judicial authorities retain jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute the other attacks not yet found to be connected with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and not yet deferred to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, it added.

“My thoughts are with each and every victim and their families who have been affected by the violent acts of terrorism that have plagued Lebanon,” said Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare.

“You have shown patience and dignity in the face of so much pain and suffering. My team and I will continue to work tirelessly in the pursuit of justice,” he concluded.

Hamadeh was the victim of an assassination attempt on October 1, 2004.

One person was killed and several others were wounded in the attack.

Hawi was assassinated on June 21, 2005.

Murr was the victim of an assassination attempt on July 12, 2005.

One person was killed in the attack and more than 20 others were injured.