“The chamber has decided unanimously to overturn the acquittals of Mr. Merhi and Mr. Oneissi. We unanimously find Mr. Merhi and Mr. Oneissi guilty,” said Ivana Hrdlickova, president of the Special Court of Nations united for Lebanon (STL), which had already sentenced to life in 2020 in absentia another alleged member of Hezbollah, Salim Ayyash, in particular for intentional homicide.

Rafic Hariri, who served as Lebanon's prime minister until his resignation in October 2004, was killed in February 2005 when a suicide bomber blew up a van loaded with explosives as his armored convoy passed through Beirut, killing 21 other people and injuring 226 people.

At the end of the first instance trial, the court convicted Salim Ayyash, but found that there was not enough evidence to convict the other defendants, Assad Sabra, Hussein Oneissi and Hassan Habib Merhi.

The prosecution had appealed the acquittals of the last two.

The Appeals Chamber The Appeals Chamber reversed the acquittals against Hassan Habib Merhi and Hussein Hassan Oneissi and declared them guilty on all counts brought against them.

She is also issuing arrest warrants for Mr Merhi and Mr Oneissi.

— Special Tribunal for Lebanon (@STLebanon) March 10, 2022

The STL, which sits on the outskirts of The Hague in the Netherlands, was set up after a UN Security Council resolution.

Hezbollah refused to hand over any suspects and to recognize the court, which issued an international arrest warrant for Salim Ayyash following his conviction.

The court said Salim Ayyash could not appeal the verdict until he surrendered.

The STL also issued an arrest warrant for Hussein Oneissi and Hassan Habib Merhi on Thursday.

The STL said in June that it was threatened with extinction for lack of funding and would have to close its doors following this appeal trial.

Another trial against Salim Ayyash for a series of attacks on several politicians has been canceled due to lack of funds.

(

With AFP

)

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