Bensouda seeks private hearing

A key witness against Deputy President William Ruto should be heard entirely in camera, the prosecutor has requested.

Ms Fatou Bensouda told the ICC she was seeking protection for four other witnesses – P-0508, P-0028, P-0469 and P-0019 – who are lined up to testify against Mr Ruto in the crimes against humanity trial at the Hague.

The prosecutor asked the judges on Monday that witness P-0452 should be heard entirely in private session.

Ms Bensouda said witness P-0452 had indicated she was not afraid to testify, but now feels threatened.

She said Witness P-0019, has insider information about meetings held to organise and plan the 2008 post-election violence.

The witness, she said, had named Mr Farouk Kibet, a known Ruto associate, as a key coordinator of the violence.

According to her filing, witness P-0508 is a victim of the violence and his identity was disclosed on January 9, 2013.

Ms Bensouda says the witness has been threatened. The witness is afraid of endangering his life and that of his family, she submitted.

Witness P-0028, Ms Bensouda says, received direct and indirect intimidation over his knowledge of the post-election violence.

The witness possesses insider information about the planning meetings and Mr Ruto’s role, she said. The judges are yet to make a ruling.