Sudan sets up special court to try Darfur criminals
Feb 26, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — In a move seen as an anticipation to the announcement by the ICC of first suspects accused of committing war crimes in Darfur region on Feb. 27, the Justice ministry said would form a special court to try some Sudanese accused of atrocities there.
The Sudanese Ministry of Justice yesterday transferred the case of the Dilayj — in west Darfur — incidents to the chief justice to form a special court that is expected to begin work next week. The ministry further said it was not concerned by the announcement that the International Criminal Court will tomorrow be making public the first batch of names of those wanted in relation to Darfur war crimes.
The secretary of the Ministry of Justice Abdeldayim Zumrawi told reporters that those accused in the incidents belonged to the armed forces and the Popular Defence Forces.
He said the criminal case included one charge related to kidnapping and taking hostage a number of citizens while the other is related to burning some villages and killing a group of citizens. He reaffirmed that the names of the accused would be made public during the court proceedings which are expected to begin next week.
Zumrawi said the case had been transferred to the judiciary based on recommendations by the investigating committee set up by the minister of justice headed by a high court judge.
He said the committee had investigated a number of incidents including those in Al-Fashir, Tawilah, Kutum and Malit in North Darfur and Shatayah area in South Darfur and Dilayj, Kulbus, Garsilah in west Darfur.
Zumrawi said during the investigations civilian and official witnesses had been questioned and that the accused had subsequently been arrested and questioned.
(ST)