Lawyers for the three high ranking Kenyans claim ICC Chief Prosecutor Moreno Ocampo's evidence has been fabricated by anonymous witnesses.
Muthaura's lawyer Karim Khan said on Wednesday he had evidence of witnesses "offering to bribe, offering evidence for hire, offering to give evidence to the prosecution if they are given a good way of life", and urged the judges to look into the issue. Muthaura himself described the prosecution evidence as "a pack of lies from people who want to make money and favours from the prosecutor".
Kenyatta, Muthaura and Ali are into the second day of confirmation of charges hearings before the ICC, during which they hope to persuade judges that prosecution evidence against them is too shaky to authorize a trial. All three are charged with crimes against humanity for their alleged role in the violence, in which prosecutors say more than 1,133 people died.
On Thursday, the prosecution began presenting evidence to back allegations that Kenyatta used a criminal network together with police to attack opposition supporters after Kenya's disputed 2007 presidential elections.
The hearings are scheduled to run to October 5 and a decision on whether their cases will go to trial is expected just before Christmas.
TJ/JC-ER/GF
© Hirondelle News Agency