ICTR
ICTR grants early release for one of its convicts: For the first time ever, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda Monday granted early release to one of its convicts, Michel Bagaragaza, who has served three-quarters of an eight year sentence for complicity to commit genocide. The ICTR president Judge Khalida Rachid Khan said in an order that the former head of the Rwandan Tea Authority would be released on December 1, 2011 from the prison in Sweden where he is currently jailed.
Planning Minister's trial adjourned: The Tribunal Wednesday adjourned to January 30, 2012 defence case for former Rwandan Planning Minister, Augustin Ngirabatware. Already 31 witnesses have testified for the defendant, who is charged with conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide or in the alternative, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and extermination and rape as crimes against humanity.
Special depositions for Kabuga and Mpiranya: Special hearings to preserve evidence against genocide fugitives Félicien Kabuga and Protais Mpriranya also continued this week.
ICC
Search Committee for new ICC Prosecutor proposes four names: The Search Committee for a new Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court on Tuesday presented its conclusions to ICC member states, short listing four candidates to succeed Luis Moreno Ocampo when his mandate expires in July 2012. The four are Fatou Bensouda of Gambia, Andrew Cayley from the UK, Mohammed Othman of Tanzania and Canadian Robert Petit.
ICC President calls for arrest of fugitives: The ICC President , Judge Sang-Hyun Song, Wednesday before the General Assembly requested countries to arrest Joseph Kony and three others from Uganda, Bosco Ntaganda from Democratic Republic of Congo and Omar Al-Bashir and two others from Sudan. He expressed deep concern over the ICC's arrest warrants for the suspects being outstanding for several years.
Ngudjolo in witness box: Congolese militiaman Mathieu Ngudjolo took the stand on Thursday to present his own defence evidence. He is charged, alongside Germain Katanga, with crimes against humanity and war crimes following an attack of Bogoro village, Ituri, Eastern DRC on February 24, 2003 when over 200 people were killed.
Bemba case: The prosecution Thursday continued calling witnesses in the trial of former Congolese rebel leader Jean Pierre Bemba. He is charged for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003.
FK/ER/GF
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