The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) pronounced the sentence in the Salim Jamil Ayyash case during a hearing on Friday.
The Trial Chamber sentenced Salim Ayyash to five concurrent life sentences for the assassination of Lebanon’s former prime minister, Rafik Hariri, and 21 others in 2005.
Ayyash, who is affiliated with Hezbollah, had a “central” leading role as part of the team that carried out the assassination, according to the Trial Chamber. Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the attack.
Ayyash’s trial and sentencing by the STL took place in absentia, as he has remained at large for over a decade.
He was unanimously found to be guilty beyond reasonable doubt of being a co-perpetrator of the 5 counts against him in relation to the 2005 assassination, during the pronouncement of the Trial Chamber’s judgment on August 18th.
