Bemba and Associates Receive Sentencing for Witness-Tampering During ICC Trial

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Former vice-president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jean-Pierre Bemba and four of his associates have been collectively sentenced to almost seven years’ imprisonment for offences against the administration of justice under Article 70 of the Rome Statute.

On 19th October 2016, the five suspects (Bemba, Aimé Kilolo-Musamba, Jean-Jacques Manegenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wadu and Narcisse Arido) were all found guilty of a conspiracy to exert undue influence on several witnesses during Bemba’s original trial at the Hague-based International Criminal Court.

Judges ruled that Bemba himself should be sentenced to one year of imprisonment and that he pay a 300,000 Euro fine to the Trust Fund for Victims. The sentence will run consecutively to his 18-year sentence.

This is the first time that a witness-tampering trial has taken place at the ICC. The prosecution and the defence may appeal the sentencing decision within 30 days of it being announced.

To learn more details, click the link below to be taken to The Coalition for the ICC’s website:

http://www.coalitionfortheicc.org/news/20170321/globaljustice-weekly-bemba-et-al-sentenced-duterte-fires-back-icc-complaints-against?utm_source=CICC+Newsletters&utm_campaign=4c4088417e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_11_07&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_68df9c5182-4c4088417e-356524057

Click the following link to read the official ICC press release:

https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=pr1245

And click below to read our previous blog post on this story:

http://9bri.com/bemba-and-others-to-be-sentenced-for-witness-tampering-during-icc-trial/

 

Image source: www.africaconnect.tv

Text source: www.coalitionfortheicc.org (22nd March 2017)

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