(EMAILWIRE.COM, December 05, 2011 ) The Hague -- Situation: Côte d’Ivoire; Case: The Prosecutor v. Laurent Koudou Gbagbo
On 5 December 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court (ICC) set the date of the beginning of the confirmation of charges hearing in the case of The Prosecutor v. Laurent Koudou Gbagbo for 18 June 2012.
This decision was announced at the initial appearance of Laurent Koudou Gbagbo before the ICC.
During this hearing, in the presence of the Prosecution and the Defence, represented by Mr Emmanuel Altit, Pre-Trial Chamber III verified the identity of Mr Gbagbo and ensured that he was clearly informed of the charges brought against him and of his rights under the Rome Statute of the ICC.
A confirmation of charges hearing is held to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed each of the crimes charged. If the charges are confirmed, the Pre-Trial Chamber commits the case for trial before a Trial Chamber, which will conduct the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial.
For more information on this case, please click here.
Background information
Pre-Trial Chamber III found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Gbagbo bears individual criminal responsibility, as an indirect co-perpetrator, for four counts of crimes against humanity, namely murder, rape and other sexual violence, persecution and other inhuman acts, allegedly committed in the context of post-electoral violence in the territory of Côte d’Ivoire between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011.
The Chamber also found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that in the aftermath of the presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire pro-Gbagbo forces attacked the civilian population in Abidjan and in the west of the country, from 28 November 2010 onwards, targeting civilians who they believed were supporters of the opponent candidate. Allegedly, the attacks were committed pursuant to an organisational policy and were also widespread and systematic as they were committed over an extended time period, over large geographic areas, and following a similar general pattern. The attacks were allegedly often directed at specific ethnic or religious communities and left a high number of reported victims.
A plan allegedly existed between Mr Gbagbo and his inner circle and they were allegedly aware that implementing it would lead to the commission of the crimes charged. Mr Gbagbo, together with others, allegedly exercised joint control over the crimes, and made a coordinated and essential contribution to the realisation of the plan.
For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.int.
(EMAILWIRE.COM, December 05, 2011 ) The Hague -- Situation: Côte d’Ivoire; Case: The Prosecutor v. Laurent Koudou Gbagbo
