François Roux to LBCI: The Tribunal must protect all witnesses

Head of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s Defense Office François Roux said that the “defense office presented a request to launch investigations before the contempt judge at the tribunal, after a journalistic website published photos of young men, claiming that they are witnesses,” adding that rumors had spread saying that the STL’s defense office is behind the leak.

“The defense office requested an immediate investigation in order to reveal the source of the leak, which may harm the witnesses’ security and safety,” he continued.

In a statement to LBCI, Roux said that the freedom of the press is essential in a democratic community, stressing however that nobody is above the law.

“The tribunal is committed to abiding by the law, especially the judicial laws,” he confirmed, noting that the STL and all international courts must protect the witnesses of the prosecution and the defense.

“This is a judicial process where a number of journalists are among the accused,” he said.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon subpoenaed Karma Mohamed Tahsin al Khayat from Al-Jadeed TV, as well as the station's parent company New TV S.A.L., to appear before the STL on two counts of Contempt and Obstruction of Justice.

Ibrahim Mohamed Al Amin from Al Akhbar, as well as the newspaper's parent company Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. have also been summoned on one count of Contempt and Obstruction of Justice.

The accused are being charged under Rule 60 bis (A) of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and all the charges relate to the Ayyash et al. case.

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.