Chad denies detaining Habre’s co-accused
Former Chad president Hissene Habre rises his fist as he leaves a court in Dakar in this November 18, 2005. The African Union-backed court set up to try former Chadian dictator has ordered that the “weapons of war” confiscated from Mr Habré’s home in Dakar be returned. FILE PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
- The lawyers insinuated that the Chadian government could be trying to provide protection for the men who have already been indicted in connection with the crimes allegedly committed by Mr Habré
- The prosecutor seized the opportunity to assure the international community that the trial of the men will be hastened in order to avail them for trial at the special court in Dakar
DAKAR, Sunday
Chad’s prosecutor general has denied allegations that the justice ministry was refusing to release the co-accused of remanded former dictator Hissene Habré.
The prosecutor, Mr Massingarel Kagah told the West Africa Democracy Radio on Saturday that Chad was willing to release the three men to face trial with Mr Habré in Senegal.
Mr Kagah’s reaction followed statements issued by Mr Habré’s lawyers in Dakar, accusing the Chadian justice ministry of “deliberately” acting to exempt the men from the trial.
The lawyers insinuated that the Chadian government could be trying to provide protection for the men who have already been indicted in connection with the crimes allegedly committed by Mr Habré.
He explained that the Chadian government was holding the men “just as for the sake of consistency and procedure”.
(FILES) A file picture taken on January 17, 1987 shows then-Chad's president Hissene Habre looking on, in N'Djamena. The International Court of Justice will rule on July 20, 2012 on Belgium's demand to have former Chad president Hissene Habre prosecuted for crimes against humanity, the ICJ announced on July 16, 2012. Brussels wants Senegal, where Habre is under house arrest, to either prosecute the ex-leader or extradite him so that Belgium itself can take him to court. AFP PHOTO / DOMINIQUE FAGET
Mr Kagah further explained that some of the men were already in trouble with the Chadian justice and so they should firstly be tried in Chad.
“And if necessary they can be heard by the African Extraordinary Chambers,” in Senegal that have received the approval of the international community to try the former Chadian military turn civilian president.
The prosecutor seized the opportunity to assure the international community that the trial of the men will be hastened in order to avail them for trial at the special court in Dakar.
