The second victim to testify against Jean-Pierre Bemba today dismissed video footage shown in court by the defense that described as “liberators” soldiers belonging to the accused’s Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC). Judes Mbetingou said the footage consisting of interviews Radio France Internationale (RFI) journalist Gabriel Kahn conducted with residents of Sibut town ... Continue reading
On Friday, war crimes victim Judes Mbetingou described to trial judges a visit by Jean-Pierre Bemba to the town of Sibut in the Central African Republic (CAR) at the time the Congolese opposition leader’s troops were allegedly brutalizing civilians in the area. The victim, who was testifying for the second day, said the visit took ... Continue reading
Judes Mbetingou, the second victim to testify in the trial of Jean-Pierre Bemba, today recalled the widespread pillaging and rape committed by soldiers belonging to the accused’s militia in the town of Sibut in the Central African Republic (CAR). Stating that the residents of the town “will never forget what they were subjected to,” Mr. ... Continue reading
A victim testifying in the war crimes trial of Congolese opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba today said the inconsistencies in her testimony that were pointed out by the defense were the result of “translation errors.” The defense today questioned the victim about discrepancies between her in-court accounts of rape, murder, and pillaging by members of the ... Continue reading
On Tuesday. the first victim to testify in the trial of former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba recounted how she was twice gang-raped by a group of Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) soldiers. She also described pillaging and murders carried out by the accused’s fighters in her locality. Going by the pseudonym Victim a/0866/10, ... Continue reading
April
30
2012
Victims to Testify in Bemba Trial This Week
After a one month hiatus, Jean-Pierre Bemba’s trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to resume on Tuesday to hear the testimony of select victims participating in the proceedings. Judges had previously ordered that victims granted leave to give evidence in the trial should appear on Thursday last week, but for unknown reasons ... Continue reading
April
5
2012
Victims to Commence Testimony on April 26
Judges have postponed the commencement of testimony by two victims participating in the trial of former Congolese senator Jean-Pierre Bemba at the International Criminal Court (ICC) to April 26, 2012. Initially, the chamber had ordered that victims granted leave to testify in the trial appear on April 23, 2012. In a March 28, 2012 ruling, ... Continue reading
March
27
2012
Bemba Expects to Begin His Defense in August
Jean-Pierre Bemba’s lawyers today told International Criminal Court (ICC) judges that his defense case would last longer than one year and gave August of this year as the likely date when the first defense witness would testify. Speaking at a status conference, defense lawyer Peter Haynes said that they expected to call about the same ... Continue reading
