Lebanese Journalist Convicted of Defying Hague Court Order

 Karma Khayat

Reuters, 18/09 13:40 CET

By Yoruk Bahceli

THE HAGUE (Reuters) – An international court in The Hague on Friday found that a Lebanese journalist had exposed witnesses in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri and defied a court order to remove the material from a website.

But the Special Tribunal for Lebanon acquitted Karma Khayat of interfering with the course of justice. Al-Jadeed, her TV station, was found not liable on both counts.

Khayat, who accuses the tribunal of gagging the free press, will be sentenced on Sept. 28. She could face a fine of 100,000 euros and seven years in prison for contempt of court – though this would be an unusually lengthy term for an international court.

Judge Nicola Lettieri said that there was no evidence that identifying the witnesses had undermined public confidence in the tribunal, but said Khayat should have taken the material down when ordered to do so.

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Source: Euronews