STL confirms Lebanon paid annual bill, moves forward in trial of...

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The Special Tribunal for Lebanon confirmed on Thursday that it has received Lebanon's share of the 2014 budget from the Lebanese government.

The full sum of $ 36 million, 49 percent of the Tribunal's budget, has been transferred to the Tribunal's bank account.

"I welcome Lebanon's contribution and I thank the Lebanese government for fulfilling its international obligation to fund the Tribunal ", STL Registrar Daryl Mundis said.

This as the Contempt Judge, Nicola Lettieri, ruled that the STL has jurisdiction to hear cases against natural persons in the Case against Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. and Mr Ibrahim Mohamed Ali Al Amin. The Judge also concluded that under Rule 60 bis, the Tribunal does not have jurisdiction to hear cases of obstruction of justice against legal persons (corporate entities).

The Contempt Judge's decision comes after Counsel assigned to represent the rights of the Accused filed a preliminary motion on 18 August, challenging the Tribunal's jurisdiction to hear cases of contempt against Akhbar Beirut S.A.L. and Mr Al Amin. The response by the Amicus Prosecutor, which argued to the contrary, was filed on 29 August.

On 2 October, an Appeals Panel of three judges appointed to consider an appeal relating to the STL's jurisdiction in the case against Al Jadeed [CO.] S.A.L. / New T.V. S.A.L. (N.T.V.) and Ms Karma Mohamed Tahsin Al Khayat (STL-14-05) decided by majority, with Judge Akoum dissenting, that the STL does have jurisdiction to hear cases of obstruction of justice against legal persons.

Earlier this year, the STL had 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 tribunal 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 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.

Lebanese journalists have held gatherings and protests to voice solidarity with Ibrahim al-Amin and Karma Khayat.

They highlighted the need to uphold the principles of freedom in the media and condemned the decision of the STL to summon the mentioned journalists.

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.