ICC confirmation hearing for Darfur rebels postponed till next month
October 23, 2010 (WASHINGTON) – The Judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) ordered a slight delay to the confirmation hearing of two Sudanese rebel figures who face charges of killing a dozen African peacekeepers more than three years ago.
The confirmation hearing is held to ensure that no case goes to trial unless there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person(s) committed the crime with which he or she has been charged.
Banda Abakaer Nourain and Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus each face three counts of violence to life in the form of murder, war crime of attacking personnel or objects involved in a peacekeeping mission and pillaging.
The two men allegedly commanded a 1,000-strong rebel force in the Sept. 29, 2007 attack, on the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) base in Haskanita in North Darfur. The attackers looted the camp of 17 vehicles, refrigerators, computers, mobile phones, ammunition and money.
The attack killed twelve soldiers and severely injured eight others who were mainly from Nigeria, Senegal, Mali and Botswana. It was the deadliest single attack on the peacekeepers since they began their mission in late 2004.
This week the ICC prosecutor and the defense lawyers for Banda and Jerbo filed a joint motion declaring that the defendants will not contest the charges at the confirmation hearing and that they have waived their rights to challenge the prosecution evidence at this stage.
The prosecution described this approach as a ” novel” one for the ICC and if approved by the judges “could save judicial time and resources” and would allow for a shortened confirmation hearing.
(ST)