Sunday February 3, 2013 – Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto got a major reprieve on Saturday, after the International Criminal Court (ICC) wrote to the Tanzania authorities requesting the two Kenya cases to be heard in Arusha.
The Trial V judges also asked the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) headed by Denmark JudgeVagn Joesnsen to indicate whether it would be possible to have the sittings held within the court which is based in Arusha.
The Trial V Judges led by presiding Judge Kuniko Ozaki is also seeking observations from Kenya, ICC prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, the victims’ legal representatives and the ICC registry.
“The chamber hereby requests the prosecutor, the legal representatives of the victims and the registry to submit observations on the subject matter referred to paragraph 4 of the present order, including on questions of logistics and security, no later than February 22 and invites Kenyan and Tanzania authorities and the ICTR to submit observations on these matters by no later than March 8,” the judges Ruled.
Jubilee coalition Presidential flag bearer Uhuru Kenyatta, his running mate William Ruto, and Ambassador Francis Muthaura had earlier written to court to refer the cases to Arusha, Tanzania.
Uhuru, Ruto, Muthaura and radio presenter Joshua Sang have been indicted by The Hague based court and the trials begin in April.
The four have been accused of committing heinous crimes during the 2007-08 post election violence where 1133 people died and over 650,00o displaced.
Source:The Kenyan DAILY POST
