Man Sought in Hariri Murder in the Dock

Adel Arafah

Filed on September 16, 2009

ABU DHABI — A man wanted for interrogation in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Al Hariri was presented in an Abu Dhabi court on Monday for entering the UAE with a forged passport.

The Lebanese man allegedly entered the country with a forged Czech Republic passport, the Supreme Federal Court heard.

“I was aware of the forgery, for I was wanted by many countries for interrogation in the case of the assassination of Hariri,” he told the court.

The Public Prosecutor said the passport was not in his name. Evidence of forgery was provided in a statement to the court by the of the Czech Republic embassy in Abu Dhabi.

The court heard that the man had been living in Jebel Ali and working as a businessman, importing and exporting goods with a trade licence. He had also travelled to USA and France from here.

Dr. Fahd Al Sabhan, defence counsel, asked the judge to allow the man’s children, a 10-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, to study in the UAE. The judge said the request would be considered in the next hearing, scheduled for October 5.

adel@khaleejtimes.com