February 25, 2010 - Daily Star - Syria threatens to try Lebanese officials in absentia

BEIRUT: Syria has threatened to try Lebanese political and security officials in absentia over a lawsuit filed against them three months ago by former head of Lebanon’s General Security Jamil Sayyed, media reports said Wednesday. The Syrian judiciary sent a formal letter to the Lebanese judiciary inquiring about the fate of the summons orders issued three months ago against a number of Lebanese political and security officials. A statement issued by Sayyed’s press office on Tuesday said the letter, a copy of which was made available to Sayyed’s attorney in Damascus, reaffirmed the “need to inform defendants to appear before the first investigating judge in Damascus.” The letter stressed that “if Lebanese authorities insist on not responding, the defendants will then be informed through a notice posted on the Justice Palace bulletin board in Damascus in line with norms, after which we will go ahead with the case in absentia, including the prosecution of defendants in absentia.”