ICCGbagbo stays in jail: In an appeals decision Tuesday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided to keep former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo in detention. The judges deemed that he might flee if he were granted provisional release. Gabgbo is suspected of crimes against humanity committed in his country between December 2010 and April 2011. He has been in jail in the Netherlands since the end of 2011.
ICCBemba trial resumes: The trial of Congolese Senator Jean-Pierre Bemba resumed Wednesday before the ICC after a six-week suspension. The testimony of the 33rd defence witness, dubbed D04-54, took place mostly behind closed doors. While testifying, the witness asked to be assisted by a lawyer.
ICCKenyatta trial postponed: The International Criminal Court decided Thursday to postpone the trial of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to February 5, 2014. It had previously been scheduled to start on November 12. Kenyatta is charged with crimes against humanity committed in his country during post-election violence in 2007 and 2008. The postponement was requested by the defence on October 24 and the prosecution rather surprisingly agreed. Meanwhile, a delegation of African foreign ministers was in New York to try and persuade the UN Security Council to ask the ICC to defer Kenyatta’s trial.
SCSL/ UKCharles Taylor said to be ill-treated: Former Liberian president Charles Taylor’s family this week claimed British prison authorities were ill-treating him. A family member told the press Tuesday that the convict was being deprived of food and water. The UK prison authorities denied this. Taylor, who was sentenced to 50 years in jail for his role in Sierra Leone’s civil war, was transferred to the UK on October 15 from the Netherlands where he had been held during his trial.
NEXT WEEKICC: The trial of Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang is scheduled to continue next week with the testimony of prosecution witnesses.
ER/ JC