ICC to deliver judgement on prosecutor’s appeal in Ruto case
October 22, 2013 (THE HAGUE) – The appeals chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed it will deliver its judgement on Friday on whether to grant Kenyan vice-president William Ruto leave from some sessions of his trial for alleged crimes against humanity.
The announcement was posted on the ICC’s website on Tuesday.
On 18 June, the chamber granted Ruto’s request to be excused from the court, with the exception of important sessions such as opening and closing statements and when victims present their testimonies.
ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda appealed against the ruling, saying the judges had acted outside of their discretion, with the court subsequently ruling that Ruto be present at all hearings until the appeal judgement is made.
The ICC earlier granted Ruto’s co-accused, Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, permission to skip some sessions of the hearing against him.
Kenyatta argued that his presence at the entire hearing would prevent him from carrying out his constitutional responsibilities as the president of Kenya.
Kenyatta and Ruto are accused of crimes against humanity in relation to their role in 2007-2008 post-election violence in which 1,200 were killed and 600,000 displaced. Both men deny any wrong-doing.
At a recent summit, the African Union (AU) resolved that no African leader should be tried before any international court while still in office and urged Kenyatta not to appear before the ICC.
The AU also resolved that Kenya should write to the UN Security Council (UNSC) asking for a deferral of Kenyatta’s trial at the ICC.
Ruto’s trial is already underway, with Kenyatta due to face court in November, although it remains unclear whether the Kenyan president will attend the trial.
He has recently stepped up his criticism of the ICC, describing it as a “neo-colonial court” targeting African leaders.
In response the ICC has said African countries referred all cases before the court willingly and voluntarily without being forced.
(ST)