Bensouda undecided on appeal

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at the opening of the trial of William Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang at The Hague on September 10, 2013. The office of Ms Bensouda is undecided on whether to appeal the court’s decision to conditionally excuse Deputy President William Ruto from continuous presence at his trial. PHOTO | AFP

By  DAVE OPIYO

What you need to know:

  • Mr Ruto’s defence team led by lawyer Karim Khan had on December 16 last year filed a request pursuant to Article 63 (1) of the Rome Statute and Rule 134 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence to excuse him from attending trial

The office of International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is undecided on whether to appeal the court’s decision to conditionally excuse Deputy President William Ruto from continuous presence at his trial.

Responding to inquiries from the Sunday Nation on Saturday, the office said it was still studying the decision of the Trial Chamber and will decide in due course whether or not to appeal.

“The Office of the Prosecutor is studying the decision of Trial Chamber V (a) on the conditional excusal of Mr Ruto from continuous presence at his trial and will decide in due course whether or not to appeal,” said the prosecutor’s office in a brief statement.

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Mr Ruto’s defence team led by lawyer Karim Khan had on December 16 last year filed a request pursuant to Article 63 (1) of the Rome Statute and Rule 134 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence to excuse him from attending trial.

Mr Ruto’s wish was granted on Wednesday. He is expected to leave the country on Sundat for The Hague.

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