ICC judges may hear cases in Kenya
Presiding Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova during the hearing on April 7, 2011 at the International Crime Court (ICC) at the Hague. Photo/JOAN PERERUAN
Judges at the International Criminal Court are considering travelling to Kenya for the confirmation hearings against six prominent suspects over the 2008 post-election violence.
A statement from the ICC on Friday said the judges have therefore given the ICC prosecutor, the victims and the defence until June 13 to file their observations on suitability of holding the hearings in Kenya instead of at The Hague.
Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has identified six Kenyans as most culpable in the violence and two cases against the suspects are currently before the Pre-Trial Chamber II of the ICC.
September
The Chamber will from September 1 begin holding hearings to either confirm or dismiss the charges against the six.
The first case is against Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali.
The second case is against Eldoret South MP William Ruto, Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang'.
The case is being heard by judges Ekaterina Trendafilova (presiding), Hans-Peter Kaul and Cuno Tarfusser.
"In order to properly assess the desirability and feasibility of conducting the confirmation of charges hearings in the Republic of Kenya, it was deemed valuable to receive observations from the parties and participants to the proceedings in both cases," the judges said.
