The Pre-Trial Judge at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) Daniel Fransen lifted today the confidentiality of his decision confirming an indictment against Mr Salim Jamil Ayyash relating to the attacks against Mr Marwan Hamade, Mr Georges Hawi and Mr Elias El- Murr on 1 October 2004, 21 June 2005 and 12 July 2005 respectively. The confirmation of this indictment marks the opening of a new case before the STL.
The indictment charges Mr Salim Jamil Ayyash with five counts:
- Conspiracy aimed at committing a terrorist act
- In the alternative to conspiracy aimed at committing a terrorist act, criminal association
- Committing terrorist acts
- Intentional homicide with premeditation of Messrs Ghazi Abou-Karroum, Georges Hawi and Khaled Moura)
- Attempted intentional homicide with premeditation of Messrs Elias El-Murr, Marwan Hamade and 17 other persons
The Pre-Trial Judge has issued an arrest warrant for execution by the Lebanese authorities and an international arrest warrant for Mr Salim Jamil Ayyash.
Judge Fransen ordered today that his decision confirming the indictment, the indictment itself, the arrest warrants against Mr Salim Jamil Ayyash, as well as his decision on the Prosecutor’s connected case submission be made public. They are now available on the STL website.
This is not a verdict of guilt and Mr Ayyash is presumed innocent unless his guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt at trial.
The indictment and arrest warrant were transmitted to the Lebanese authorities. They have the obligation to search for, arrest and transfer the accused to the STL’s custody.