January 6, 2010 - Daily Star - Hariri Tribunal VP hands in retirement notice

BEIRUT: Vice President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) Judge Ralph Riachi submitted Tuesday to Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar an early retirement memo demanding to put an end to his services in the Lebanese judiciary after six months of occupying his position in the STL. Riachi said his request aimed to allow him to dedicate himself to his position at the STL as he hoped he accomplished to the fullest extent his mission during years of service in the Lebanese judiciary.
The STL is in charge of investigating former Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination in 2005. The memo is to be transferred by Najjar to the Higher Judiciary Council in order to be approved since Riachi requested to retire seven years prior to reaching the legal age. However, in the absence of a response by the higher council two months after the request is received, Riachi would be considered retired regardless of the council’s decision. “After my years of service as a Lebanese judge surpassed the period allowing me to request my retirement before reaching the legal age and since my appointment in the Special Tribunal does not conflict with the continuation of my active service in the Lebanese Judiciary, I ask to take the necessary procedures to issue a retirement decree based on my demand,” Riachi’s statement said. – The Daily Star