Pre-Trial Judge transfers the complete Ayyash et al. case file to Trial Chamber

The Pre-Trial Judge transferred on Monday the entire Ayyash et al. file, containing the evidence and all other documents that relate to the case to the Trial Chamber.

The start of the trial is reportedly scheduled for 13 January 2014. The indictment against the four accused— Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Hussein Hassan Oneissi and Assad Hassan Sabra – was confirmed in June 2011.

Special Tribunal for Lebanon judges decided in 2012 that the Tribunal can try the accused in their absence, which is permissible under Lebanese Law.

The four accused remain at large, but the Lebanese authorities have an ongoing obligation to search for, arrest and transfer the accused to STL custody.

A public hearing will be held on Tuesday by the Trial Chamber judges to discuss matters related to the preparation of trial.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon was set up by the United Nations at the Lebanese government's request to try the alleged perpetrators of the 2005 bombing in which former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others were killed.