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ICC rejects Ruto bid to shift trial
William Ruto (Right) and his lawyer arrive at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on September 5, 2011. Photo/FILE NATION MEDIA GROUP
By BERNARD NAMUNANE bnamunane@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Monday, July 15 2013 at 23:30
In Summary
Deputy President William Ruto will have to travel to The Hague for the beginning of the trial of the charges of crimes against humanity arising from the 2008 post-election violence.
On Monday, 18 judges of the International Criminal Court voted against Mr Ruto's application to be tried in Kenya or in Arusha. (READ: ICC meets over Ruto, Uhuru trial shift bids)
A statement released by the ICC stated that issues of security, cost of shifting the staff to Kenya, effect on witnesses and victims as well as the length of the proceedings informed the judges' decision.
"In their consideration of the matter, the judges took into account numerous factors, such as security, the cost of holding proceedings outside The Hague, the potential impact on victims and witnesses, the length of the proceedings to be held away from the seat of the Court, the potential impact on the perception of the court and the impact on the court's ability to conduct and support other proceedings that are taking place simultaneously at the seat of the Court," the statement said.
In reaching the decision, the judges turned down a recommendation by their colleagues at the Trial Chamber hearing the case against the Deputy President and former Kass FM Radio presenter Joshua arap Sang.
"The judges of the International Criminal Court have decided, in a plenary session, that the commencement of the trial against William Samoei Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang will take place at the seat of the court in The Hague, rejecting the joint defence request to hold hearings in Kenya or in Tanzania.
The trial is scheduled to commence on September 10, 2013, in the presence of the accused," they stated.
Even though the judges wanted to bring the trial proceedings closer to the affected communities, the judges said they had reached the decision after assessing the opinions of all parties and the participants.
"The judges reached this conclusion after an extensive discussion that considered the observations of all the parties and participants, the ICC Registry's assessment as well as the positions of the relevant national authorities," the statement said.
The details of the plenary decision will be released later.
Earlier unconfirmed reports had indicated that the judges would settle on Kenya as the venue for the opening of the trials for two weeks before shifting back to The Hague.
The denial means that less than 12 of the 18 judges who took part in the plenary sitting over the recommendation by Trial Chamber judges Chile Eboe-Osuji, Olga Herrera Carbuccia and Robert Fremr endorsed the proposal.
ICC rejects Ruto bid to shift trial - Politics - nation.co.ke
William Ruto (Right) and his lawyer arrive at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on September 5, 2011. Photo/FILE NATION MEDIA GROUP
By BERNARD NAMUNANE bnamunane@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Monday, July 15 2013 at 23:30
In Summary
- Plenary of 18 judges voted against the Deputy President's request to be tried in Kenya or Tanzania
- Judges reached decision after assessing opinions of all parties
Deputy President William Ruto will have to travel to The Hague for the beginning of the trial of the charges of crimes against humanity arising from the 2008 post-election violence.
On Monday, 18 judges of the International Criminal Court voted against Mr Ruto's application to be tried in Kenya or in Arusha. (READ: ICC meets over Ruto, Uhuru trial shift bids)
A statement released by the ICC stated that issues of security, cost of shifting the staff to Kenya, effect on witnesses and victims as well as the length of the proceedings informed the judges' decision.
"In their consideration of the matter, the judges took into account numerous factors, such as security, the cost of holding proceedings outside The Hague, the potential impact on victims and witnesses, the length of the proceedings to be held away from the seat of the Court, the potential impact on the perception of the court and the impact on the court's ability to conduct and support other proceedings that are taking place simultaneously at the seat of the Court," the statement said.
In reaching the decision, the judges turned down a recommendation by their colleagues at the Trial Chamber hearing the case against the Deputy President and former Kass FM Radio presenter Joshua arap Sang.
"The judges of the International Criminal Court have decided, in a plenary session, that the commencement of the trial against William Samoei Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang will take place at the seat of the court in The Hague, rejecting the joint defence request to hold hearings in Kenya or in Tanzania.
The trial is scheduled to commence on September 10, 2013, in the presence of the accused," they stated.
Even though the judges wanted to bring the trial proceedings closer to the affected communities, the judges said they had reached the decision after assessing the opinions of all parties and the participants.
"The judges reached this conclusion after an extensive discussion that considered the observations of all the parties and participants, the ICC Registry's assessment as well as the positions of the relevant national authorities," the statement said.
The details of the plenary decision will be released later.
Earlier unconfirmed reports had indicated that the judges would settle on Kenya as the venue for the opening of the trials for two weeks before shifting back to The Hague.
The denial means that less than 12 of the 18 judges who took part in the plenary sitting over the recommendation by Trial Chamber judges Chile Eboe-Osuji, Olga Herrera Carbuccia and Robert Fremr endorsed the proposal.
ICC rejects Ruto bid to shift trial - Politics - nation.co.ke
