Naharnet - Australian Top Cop Slams Nasrallah, Blames Hizbullah for Hariri Murder , October 1, 2011

Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Nick Kaldas slammed Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s alleged accusations that he was a “stooge for Israel and the CIA” while investigating the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

“They’re very, very hurtful, damaging allegations. No evidence whatsoever has been put up by him,” Nick Kaldas told SBS journalist Yaara Bou Melhem.

He served in 2008 as chief investigator of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the murder of Hariri, who was killed in a suicide car bombing along with 22 other people including a bomber on February 14, 2005.

Nasrallah claimed in July that Kaldas over his investigation acted as a "stooge for Israel and the CIA".

“Firstly, there is not one skerrick of evidence to suggest any involvement from Israel or anybody else who’s been accused by Hizbullah.” Kaldas said, adding: “Secondly, if you look at pure motive, political causes and so on, I'm not sure that Israel or anybody who's aligned with them has actually gained by the assassination of Mr. Hariri.”

He blamed Hizbullah for the murder of Hariri.

Kaldas told SBS in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday “You do get to a point in an investigation where you’re satisfied that a person, or group or individuals are responsible for the murder. You do need to eliminate all the other possibilities and I think that happened in this case.”

He also lashed out at Hizbullah‘s attack on key telecommunications evidence put forward by the Tribunal.

“It’s easy to stand up on a podium and make really spurious, unproven allegations when you’re not being cross examined on them. I think it’s cowardly in many ways.” Kaldas said.

In August, the court published a full indictment, saying it had enough evidence to put four members of Hizbullah on trial.

The four Hizbullah members are Salim Ayyash, 47, Mustafa Badreddine, 50, Hussein Oneissi, 37 and Assad Sabra, 34.

Ayyash and Badreddine face five charges including that of "committing a terrorist act by means of an explosive device" and homicide, while Oneissi and Sabra face charges of conspiring to commit the same acts.

The whereabouts of the four men are currently unknown.

Kaldas confirmed that he believes that the case will move to a trial in absentia.

“The evidence is what it is,” he said.

Concerning the witnesses, Kaldas noted that “there is protection for witnesses and I’m sure the office of the prosecutor will do all they can to protect witnesses.”

Kaldas left his position in the STL at the end of his contract on Feb, 28 2010 to return to resume his duties as Deputy Commissioner of the NSW Police.