Trial judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have approved an amended list of witnesses in which 13 fewer individuals are expected to testify for Jean-Pierre Bemba. Judges Sylvia Steiner (presiding), Joyce Aluoch, and Kuniko Ozaki have also approved the order of appearance for the five witnesses expected to testify next for the Congolese opposition ... Continue reading
May
16
2013
Bemba Drops 13 Witnesses
Lawyers representing Jean-Pierre Bemba in his trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have reduced from 63 to 50 the number of witnesses they intended to call to testify for the former vice president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a May 10, 2013 submission to judges, lawyers Aimé Kilolo-Musamba and Peter Haynes said ... Continue reading
Today, a witness said he regretted that the crimes his colleagues committed while they fought to capture power in the Central African Republic (CAR) in 2002 and 2003 were not known to the world court trying former Congolese opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba. Testifying under the court-given name ‘Witness D04-56,’ the former fighter in General François ... Continue reading
François Bozizé’s rebels terrorized civilians in some Central African Republic (CAR) towns that were under the control of Jean-Pierre Bemba’s troops, the International Criminal Court (ICC) heard on Friday. “The crimes were committed by the rebel fighters while they were there, and they continued to commit crimes even after our departure,” stated ‘Witness D04-56,’ who ... Continue reading
A former soldier in the rebel force Jean-Pierre Bemba’s troops fought against in the Central African Republic (CAR) has said he was not aware of any crimes committed by the Bemba fighters. The only crimes he was aware of were committed by soldiers of the rebel group led by General François Bozizé. “The Bozizé rebel ... Continue reading
Today, a former fighter under the rebellion led by deposed Central African Republic (CAR) president François Bozizé shifted some blame for atrocities committed in that country’s 2002-2003 conflict from war crimes accused Jean-Pierre Bemba’s militia to the Bozizé rebels, who he said were undisciplined and brutalized civilians. Testifying under the court-given name ‘Witness D04-56,’ he ... Continue reading
Jean-Pierre Bemba’s trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has stalled once again, as the defense continues to experience difficulties in getting witnesses to appear before the court. At a status conference this morning, judges revealed that an upcoming witness, whose testimony was scheduled to commence this week, had expressed fears for his security if ... Continue reading
April
24
2013
Bemba Lacked Authority to Order Soldiers’ Arrest
Jean-Pierre Bemba did not have authority over the discipline of his soldiers once they were deployed outside of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to witness testimony heard today. An individual going by the court-given pseudonym ‘Witness D04-39,’ who was a member of the group the accused led, told judges at the International Criminal ... Continue reading
April
23
2013
Witness Insists Bemba Did Not Command Troops
Prosecutors have contested the testimony of a former insider in Jean-Pierre Bemba’s group, who testified that the accused did not issue orders to his troops during operations in the Central African Republic (CAR). The witness said Central African authorities commanded and controlled the troops. During cross-examination, prosecution lawyer Shkelzen Zeneli put it to ‘Witness D04-39’ ... Continue reading
April
22
2013
Witness: Bemba Delegated Command of His Troops
Today, a witness stated that during the 2002-2003 conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR), war crimes accused Jean-Pierre Bemba “delegated” command and control of his troops to that country’s authorities. Testifying under the pseudonym ‘Witness D04-39,’ the witness claimed the decision to delegate was taken because it would have been difficult for Mr. Bemba ... Continue reading
