Bemba Trial Chamber III reconvened for reparations proceedings: In the case of The Prosecutor v Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, the ICC Presidency has issued a decision replacing two judges in Trial Chamber III following the completion of the trial and sentencing of Mr Bemba, but prior to the Trial Chamber’s rulings on the reparations due to victims. The Presidency noted that ideally Judge Sylvia Steiner and Judge Kuniko Ozaki, who conducted the trial, should also address the matter of reparations in order to preserve knowledge of the case and context. However in this instance, the Presidency granted Judge Steiner’s request for conclusion of her term and Judge Ozaki’s request for excusal, on the respective grounds that Judge Steiner had already served four years beyond her foreseen nine year term and Judge Ozaki has a competing commitment to the ongoing The Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda case. The re-convened Trial Chamber III will therefore be comprised of Judge Joyce Aluoch, Judge Geoffrey Henderson, and Judge Chang-ho Chung henceforth. (ICC Presidency Decision)
Victims in Ongwen case respond to OTP request admit evidence under Article 56: In the case of The Prosecutor v Dominic Ongwen at the ICC, the Office of Public Counsel for the victims and the Legal Representatives of the Victims have filed a response in support of the “Prosecution’s request to admit evidence preserved under Article 56 of the Statute” of 13 June 2016. The Victims’ Counsel concur with the Prosecutor that the admission of written transcripts of seven witness testimonies would not be prejudicial to Mr Ongwen’s statutory rights, and would enhance the efficacy and expeditiousness of case proceedings while ensuring the protection of witnesses. The seven witnesses in question testified before the Pre-Trial Chamber in September and November 2015, but the admissibility of their evidence in written rather than oral form at the (subsequent) Trial stage will hinge on whether the Trial Chamber considers that this form of evidence would have a prejudicial effect on Mr Ongen’s statutory rights. The Victims’ filing drew the Trial Chamber’s attention to the benefits associated with written testimony, including the avoidance of re-victimisation of witnesses and any potential risks of third-party interference with witnesses. (Victims Filing)
Ugandan Constitutional Court petitioned over Bashir visit: On 7 July 2016 Ugandan national Brian Serius filed a petition before Uganda’s Constitutional court alleging that Uganda contravened its obligations under Article 89 of the ICC Statute when it invited President Omar al-Bashir to Kampala earlier this year. President Bashir, the sitting head of state of Sudan, has been indicted by the ICC for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide for acts allegedly committed by the Sudanese army and affiliated militias in Darfur between 2003-2008. Though the ICC issued the first arrest warrant for President Bashir on 4 March 2009, he freely attended Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s inauguration in May – his attendance prompted representatives of the United States and EU countries to walk out of the inauguration ceremony. The petition before Uganda’s Constitutional court calls for an injunction to prevent the Ugandan government from further acts which would undermine Uganda’s duties and obligations as a State-party to the ICC statute. (Sudan Tribune)
The post 6 July 2016 – NEWS ABOUT THE COURTS – Bemba TC reconvened, Ongwen victims response to OTP request and Ugandan suit over Bashir appeared first on ICL Media Review.