New York – Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, Netherlands, has fixed Monday for judgment in the criminal charges against Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rebel leader, Jean-Pierre Bemba.
Bemba is charged with two counts of “crimes against humanity’’ (murder and rape), and three counts of war crimes (murder, rape, and pillaging) allegedly committed during the Central African Republic (CAR) conflict in 2002-2003.
An ICC statement recalled that the trial of Bemba, a politician, businessman and former militia leader, began on Nov. 22, 2010, and the submission of evidence in the case was closed on April 7, 2014.
It noted that on Oct. 2, 2014, on the defence’s request, the Trial Chamber reopened the evidentiary hearing for purposes of hearing further testimony, which was concluded on Oct. 24, 2014.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
It added that the prosecution, the defence and legal representatives of victims made their closing oral statements on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13, 2014.
The statement disclosed that the ICC Chamber to deliver the judgment was composed of Judges Sylvia Steiner (Brazil), presiding; Joyce Aluoch (Kenya) and Kuniko Ozaki (Japan).
It stated that a summary of the judgment would be read during a public court hearing by the presiding judge. (PANA/NAN)