Former Ruto, Sang witnesses defend Barasa
Two former witnesses in the trial of Mr William Ruto and Mr Joshua arap Sang at the ICC have come to the defence of wanted journalist Walter Barasa.
Mr Samuel Kimeli Kosgei and Mr Simon Kipkolum Rotich, who withdrew as prosecution witnesses, filed affidavits to support Mr Barasa’s fight against his extradition to The Hague, saying they suffered in the hands of the ICC prosecutors and are convinced he will not get any fair trial at the global court.
Mr Kosgei swore that he agreed to become a prosecution witness against Mr Ruto and Mr Sang, but after being forced to base his testimony on falsehoods, he decided to withdraw as a witness.
“I was relocated to the Netherlands with my family but after I declined the request to change my statements and explained to them that it was unlawful, I was charged with the offence of mistreating my children,” he said, adding that the court recommended child care services at the Netherlands to take the children.
FOLLOWED WITH PROMISES
He said that even after he formally withdrew as a witness and deported back to Kenya, the office of the prosecution continued to follow him with promises to relocate him to South Africa if he agreed to swear a false statement to implicate Mr Ruto.
“In the circumstances of this matter I earnestly believe that it would be prejudicial, oppressive and unjust to try Mr Barasa in The Hague. I believe that the OTP has and will engage in all illegal tactics and unfair procedures to secure the conviction and imprisonment of Mr Barasa,” swore Mr Kosgei.
Mr Rotich on the other hand said he was detained in the Netherlands for one year after he refused to alter his statements.
“I objected to recording of statements prepared for me after which I was charged with Premeditated Violent Attack and locked up in a pre-detention facility before being jailed for one year,” he swore.
