As the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has confirmed an indictment against Hassan Habib Merhi who is accused of being involved in the 14 February 2005 Beirut assassination attack of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 22 others, Lebanese authorities have an ongoing obligation to search for, arrest and transfer five suspects to the STL custody.
The STL had issued an indictment and arrest warrant for Merhi to the Lebanese authorities in August, giving the official authorities 30 days to arrest the accused. The court mentioned that the “security situation” in the southern suburbs of Beirut following two car bombings have impeded the manhunt as Lebanon’s prosecutor general reported back in early September saying that the efforts to apprehend Merhi had failed.
“All of these steps have been confidential until now to allow the Lebanese authorities the best opportunity to apprehend the accused,” said a statement issued by the court on Thursday.
“Under the current circumstances in Lebanon, the STL President has deemed the efforts by the Lebanese authorities to be sufficient to justify alternative means to search for the accused. As a result, the STL President has determined to initiate a 30-day public advertisement phase with the help of the Lebanese authorities to locate the accused as well as to inform him of the charges against him and of his rights, which are guaranteed under international law,” it added.
According to the STL’s indictment, Merhi is charged with a number of crimes including the crime of conspiracy aimed at committing a terrorist act. He is alleged to have acted in a conspiracy with Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Salim Jamil Ayyash, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra in relation to the attack on 14 February 2005, all of whom have already been indicted. He is also alleged to have coordinated the preparation of the purported claim of responsibility as part of the preparations for and in furtherance of, the attack.
The indictment summarizes Merhi’s role as follows. Merhi, together with Badreddine, coordinated the preparation of the false claim of responsibility, and, at times, was in contact with Ayyash in relation to the preparations for the attack. Merhi, prior to the attack, coordinated the activities of Oneissi and Sabra in order to identify a suitable individual, later identified as Ahmad Abu Adass who would be used to make a video-taped false claim of responsibility for the attack.
Immediately following the attack, Merhi, coordinated the activities of Oneissi and Sabra, who participated in disseminating statements falsely attributing responsibility for the attack, ensuring the delivery of the video with a letter attached, containing the false claim of responsibility to AI-Jazeera, and ensuring the video would be broadcasted.
Five interconnected mobile phone groups were involved in the assassination of Hariri. Four of these five phone groups operated as networks. A network is defined as a group of phones with a high frequency of contact between the phones within that group.
Each phone group has been colour-coded for ease of reference.
Red Network: a network consisting of 8 phones which were used from 4 January 2005, until it ceased all activity 2 minutes before the attack on 14 February 2005.
Green Network: a network consisting of 3 phones which were used from at least 30 September 2004 to 14 February 2005. From 13 October 2004 until they ceased all activity on 14 February 2005 about one hour before the attack.
Blue Network: a network consisting of 18 phones that were used between 18 October 2004 and 1 October 2005. Fifteen of these phones were used for preparations for the attack including some for surveillance of HARIRI between 18 October 2004 and 14 February 2005.
Yellow Network: a network consisting of 18 phones activated between 1999 and 2003 and operational until 7 January 2005. Of these 18 phones, 13 were used between 1 September 2004 and 7 January 2005.
Purple Phones: a group of three phones, which were used from at least 1 January 2003 until 16 February 2005. Purple Phones were used to communicate amongst each other and to communicate with others outside the group.
According to the indictment, Hassan Habib Merhi had used the Purple phones which were used to coordinate the false claim of responsibility. He was also in contact with Ayyash, the coordinator of the assassination team, and with Badreddine.
Merhi was born on 12 December 1965 in Beirut, Lebanon. He is the son of Habib Merhi and Latifa Abbas. He has resided in Bourj-El-Barajneh. His Lebanese civil registration is 1126/Zqaq-EI-Blat.
