ICC to decide on charging Bemba
2009-01-12 12:58
The Hague - The International Criminal Court started a hearing on Monday to decide whether former Democratic Republic of Congo vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba should be tried for war crimes.
The four day hearing will seek to ensure there is sufficient evidence to prosecute the ex-rebel leader for crimes allegedly committed in the Central African Republic by militia under his command.
Bemba, arrested on an ICC warrant in Brussels last May, faces five charges of war crimes and three of crimes against humanity for rape, torture, pillaging and murder allegedly committed by his Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) between 2002 and 2003.
Prosecution lawyers will present evidence this week to try and convince the judges there is sufficient grounds for a trial, while Bemba's defence team will argue for charges to be dropped.
If they approve the charge sheet, the judges will pave the way for 46-year-old Bemba to go on trial. A decision will be made within 60 days.
The ICC stressed in a statement that the hearing will not prejudge Bemba's guilt or innocence.
"It aims to protect his rights by ensuring that no case goes to trial unless there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed the crime with which he has been charged."
The charges relate to the MLC fighting a coup in the Central African Republic at the behest of then president Ange-Felix Patasse.
The provisional charge sheet alleges that MLC combatants attacked the civilian population, committing rape and torture on "a systematic or widespread scale".
Monday's hearing started with a summary of the charges, to be followed by statements from the prosecutor, lawyers for 54 alleged victims and Bemba's defence team.
Bemba is the first suspect before the ICC for alleged war crimes committed in the Central African Republic.
The ICC is the first permanent world court set up to judge war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.