Ruto, Sang ICC Trial Pushed To Next Week

The trial of Deputy President William Ruto and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang at the ICC slated to resume on Monday has been rescheduled.

The hearing will now start on January 16.

Mr Sang’s lawyer, Mr Katwa Kigen, Tuesday confirmed that the case had been deferred by three days. “It is the decision of the court,” Mr Kigen told the Nation by phone.

He, however, did not say the reasons for the postponement.

There have been discussions at the ICC on whether to adjust the hearing, which started in September last year.

Mr Ruto and Mr Sang are accused of crimes against humanity including murder, deportation or forcible transfer of population and persecution during the 2007-2008 post-election violence.

The trial is before Trial Chamber V(a) composed of Judges Chile Eboe-Osuji (presiding), Olga Herrera Carbuccia and Robert Fremr.

On December 13, last year, the Appeals Chamber dismissed prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s appeal against the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber II, rejecting her request to amend the temporal scope the charges against Mr Ruto and Mr Sang.

SEEKING EVIDENCE

President Kenyatta’s trial at the ICC may start in May if the Office of the Prosecutor acquires vital evidential materials to support the case.

In an application filed by Ms Bensouda in December, the Trial Chamber V (b) was requested to adjourn the case by at least three months from the initial February 5.

The prosecutor has also requested for the convention of a status conference this month to update the chamber on the progress of investigations.