The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) Appeals Chamber’s rejection of STL Prosecutor General Daniel Bellemare’s appeal “makes the STL, not the Lebanese judiciary, the concerned and authorized [body] to look into the ‘false witnesses’ issue and decide on it,” Kataeb Party head Amin Gemayel said on Wednesday.
This decision offers an “practical and legal exit from the discussion that currently divides the cabinet,” Gemayel said in a statement.
The chamber’s decision also reveals that “Bellemare’s opinions are not necessarily absolutely true” and demonstrates that there will be an opportunity for defense and appeal after the tribunal’s indictment, he added.
The Appeals Chamber issued a unanimous opinion earlier on Wednesday rejecting Bellemare’s appeal against Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen’s ruling that the tribunal has the jurisdiction to examine former General Security chief Jamil al-Sayyed’s request.
Sayyed, who was detained from 2005 to 2009 on suspicion of involvement in former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 murder, is seeking documents related to his detention in order to sue those who he claims gave false testimony against him.
March 8 politicians have called for the cabinet to task the Justice Council with investigating the issue of witnesses who gave unreliable testimonies to the international investigation into the Rafik Hariri murder.
However, March 14 figures have said that the regular judiciary should handle the matter.
This decision offers an “practical and legal exit from the discussion that currently divides the cabinet,” Gemayel said in a statement.
The chamber’s decision also reveals that “Bellemare’s opinions are not necessarily absolutely true” and demonstrates that there will be an opportunity for defense and appeal after the tribunal’s indictment, he added.
The Appeals Chamber issued a unanimous opinion earlier on Wednesday rejecting Bellemare’s appeal against Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen’s ruling that the tribunal has the jurisdiction to examine former General Security chief Jamil al-Sayyed’s request.
Sayyed, who was detained from 2005 to 2009 on suspicion of involvement in former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 murder, is seeking documents related to his detention in order to sue those who he claims gave false testimony against him.
March 8 politicians have called for the cabinet to task the Justice Council with investigating the issue of witnesses who gave unreliable testimonies to the international investigation into the Rafik Hariri murder.
However, March 14 figures have said that the regular judiciary should handle the matter.
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