SHOCKING: ICC witnesses refuse to testify against UHURU and RUTO
Thursday August 16, 2012 – Key International Criminal Court witnesses have refused to testify against Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret Noth William Ruto for unidentified reasons, the DAILY POST has established.
Some of the witnesses said it was four years since the time they testified and they have forgotten what they initially said.
ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda wants the court to grant the prosecution team the opportunity to meet the witnesses in person ahead of the trial to re-assure them of their safety with their trust, jog their memory, reinvigorate their courage and clear any inconsistencies in their evidences.
However, she acknowledges witness interference and intimidation has dealt a big blow to the entire cases since some witnesses with insider accounts of post election violence have declined to testify.
She protested rampant interferences, bribery, intimidation and threats to life, forced disappearance and executions, which she concedes have caused some potential witnesses to develop cold feet and refuse to testify.
Bensouda said multiple witnesses have been offered huge amounts of money, saying this could immensely jeopardize cases when they enter the trial stage in April next year.
The prosecutor admitted that this unexpected move by the ICC witnesses could weaken cases against the four Kenyan suspects.
Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and radio presenter Joshua Arap Sang have been indicted by the ICC and their trials begin on April next year.
Source:The Kenyan DAILY POST
SHOCKING: ICC witnesses refuse to testify against UHURU and RUTO
