Investigation into the assassination of Rafiq Hariri – the difficulties of investigating a politically sensitive crime

The UN-led investigation (source of mandate: UN Security Council Resolution 1595) into the assassination of the late Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafiq Hariri, appears to be coming to its definitive stages.

 There has been much rumours about Syrian intelligence being behind the assassination, and investigators have had to conduct their work in a very politically sensitive environment.  The political sensitivity is underlined by a recent article in Haaretz (‘Hezbollah slams ‘dishonest’ UN investigation of Hariri killing’ (Haaretz, 2 May 2009)), in which Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Shi’te militant faction Hezbollah, accused the Hague based Special Tribunal into Lebanon of being “unfair” and “biased”.  Nasrallah also accused the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, of 

dragging the United Nations into a confrontation with Hezbollah and with the resistance movements in the region…

These combative remarks were made in the context of recent development in the investigation, which saw the release of four pro-Syrian Lebanese army officers from custody (‘Hezbollah slams Hariri death probe‘, Al-Jazeera, 2 May 2009), as well as the arrest of a Syrian intelligence officer in Dubai. (‘Suspect in Hariri murder ‘arrested”, Al-Jazeera, 21 April 2009).  

Leading the investigation is none other than a NSW police officer with extensive homicide investigation experience, Deputy Commissioner of the NSW Police, Nick Kaldas.  

Nick Kaldas has had an interesting background that might make him a suitable person to lead this investigation.  He is of Egyptian Coptic background, speaks fluent Arabic, and considers himself to both proudly Arab and proudly Australian.  He has had extensive experience in homicide investigation and counter-terrorism investigation, including the investigation into the death of John Newman.  So at least he is no stranger to homicide in a politically charged environment.  

In an extensive interview on ABC Radio National with journalist Monica Attard (‘ABC Radio National, Sunday Profile, ‘Nick Kaldas, NSW Police Officer’, 8 March 2009), Nick Kaldas outlined the challenges facing the UN homicide investigation team in a political charged environment.