ICC/BEMBAA trial within a trial: Congolese Senator Jean-Pierre Bemba, his lawyer and an MP from his party on Wednesday made an initial appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for suspected witness tampering. Lawyer Aimé Kilolo and member of parliament Babala Wandu are now detained in The Hague, as is Bemba. According to the Prosecutor, the acts of which they are accused took place in the context of Bemba’s trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003 by fighters of his former rebel movement, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC).
ICCVideoconference hearings for certain accused: Some defendants at the International Criminal Court (ICC) may be authorized to attend court sessions by videoconference, according to an amendment to the ICC’s founding statute agreed by member states. The amendment was adopted by the twelfth session of the Assembly of States Parties, which ended Thursday in The Hague, Netherlands. According to the amendment, a defendant who is summoned to appear may request the court in writing for permission to attend all or part of the trial by videoconference. Human rights organizations accuse ICC member states of giving in to pressure from Kenya, whose President and Deputy President are indicted by the Court.
ER/ JC