France initiates CAH investigation of Assad:
On Wednesday, 30 September 2015, the Paris prosecutor’s office said that France is investigating Syria’s President, Bashar al-Assad, over alleged crimes against humanity. An official at the prosecutor’s office said the investigation was opened on 10 September, “on the basis of indications received from the foreign ministry”. 55,000 photographic images were received by the ministry’s dossier, showing 11,000 alleged victims of forces loyal to al-Assad. During Syria’s four-year civil war between Assad’s troops, rebel groups and Islamic State militants, an estimated 250,000 people have been killed and approximately 11 million people displaced. On Monday, United States President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to further look into the diplomatic end to the war, clashing over Assad’s retention of power. (Reuters, Haaretz) (For additional information please click here)
Prosecution tells ICC that 5 accused in Bemba contempt case bribed witnesses: In opening remarks during former Congo vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba’s obstruction of justice trial, Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said, “this case is about shielding the integrity of the court’s proceedings”. She went on to say that “Mr. Bemba directed a plan to see his acquittal through corrupted means”. Kweku Vanderpuye, a senior ICC prosecutor, told judges that the defendants had a detailed plan to coach defense witnesses in Bemba’s Central African Republic (CAR) trial between 2002 and 2003. Bemba, Aime Kilolo Musamba, his lawyer, and Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, a member of Bemba’s defense team, are alleged to have corruptly influenced the testimony of numerous defense witnesses. Bemba’s political ally, Fidele Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido have also been charged for scripting defense witness testimony. (The Guardian, Reuters) (For additional information please click here)
Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi appears before the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber: Ahmad al-Fawi al-Mahdi, an alleged Islamist militant, appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC) yesterday, 30 September 2015. Faqi told the court that he is from a Tuareg tribe, he is a graduate of the teachers’ institute in Timbuktu and he was a civil servant in the education department. He also asked judges to address him in Arabic and refer to him by his full name, declining to make any other statement. Faqi is the first individual to appear before the ICC on charges featuring the destruction of religious buildings and historical monuments. It is also the first time that a Jihadist has appeared before the court in The Hague. Faqi is alleged to have committed war crimes for ordering the deliberate destruction of buildings in Timbuktu and was surrendered to the ICC last Saturday from Niger. (The Guardian, Yahoo! News) (For additional information please click here)
Ballistic experts testifies for Mladic defence about Markale Massacre: Zorica Subotic, ballistic expert testifying for Ratko Mladic, told the Hague tribunal on Tuesday that a missile could not have fallen on the Markale market in 1994. Subotic also said that, “the number of dead and injured does not correlate to the fire power of a 120 millimeter missile”. In addition, Subotic stated that prosecution expert Berko Zecevic drew the ships in the market incorrectly. Ratko Mladic is charged for commanding Bosnia Serb forces to terrorize the population of Saravejo through shelling and sniping; with two significant attacks on the Markale market. Mladic is also charged with genocide and other municipalities in Srebrenica. The Hague prosecution alleges the mortar missile caused the second massacre in Markale without being recorded by UNPROFOR radars, but Subotic argues in the opposite. Subotic resumed her testimony today, 1 October 2015. (Balkan Transitional Justice)
Machar welcomes S. Sudan war crimes tribunal: Riek Machar, leader of South Sudan’s armed opposition, welcomed the formation of a hybrid court to try those responsible for human rights violations and war crimes during the almost 2 year civil-war. In an interview, Machar said that the creation of a hybrid court would help the accused face the law. On Tuesday, 29 September 2015, the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council called for the creation of a special court to try war crime suspects in South Sudan. In December 2013, South Sudan erupted in war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Rich Machar. The United Nations estimates that tens of thousands of people have died and at least 2 million people disabled since the fight began. (Aljazeera America)
Karadzic says number of accused illnesses should be investigated: During a status conference on his health, Radovan Karadzic told officials that he is concerned with the amount of ill prisoners at The Hague. Karadzic told the status conference that last month he had an operation due to gall bladder inflammation, moments after his complaint to the trial chamber about his health condition. That same day Karadzic had surgery. Karadzic requested an investigation into how detention affects prisoners’ health based on a claim by 11 detainees who suffered from diseases that were prevalent when they arrive at The Hague in 2008. Preceding Judge O-Gon Kwon said the trial chamber could conclude that Karadzic has recovered from surgery with relief. Karadzic is the former president of Republika Srpska and is charged with genocide in Srebrenica and other municipalities, the persecution of Bosniaks and Croats across the country, and the terrorization of the population of Saravejo; including taking UN peacekeepers hostage. (Balkan Transitional Justice)
Kenya approaches UNSC about case against Deputy President Ruto: Kenya is seeking the UN Security Council to rally support to have Deputy President William Ruto’s case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) dropped. Rather than deferring the case, multiple sources advised that the government target the Assembly of States Parties’ (ASP) meeting in November to push for the withdrawal of the case. Mr. Macharia Kamau, Kenya’s permanent representative to the United Nations, confirmed that the African Union (AU) has submitted its position to the Security Council. He also explained that the case was being fought on the grounds of legal procedure and technicality. (allAfrica)
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