ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has confirmed receiving information relating to President Uhuru’s finances and transactions during the post-election violence period. Bensouda told ICC judges that she is reviewing the records ahead of the July 9 Status Conference.
On Wednesday, the trial chamber will hold a status conference where the issue of cooperation between Kenya and the ICC will take centre stage. Bensouda said that she met Attorney General Githu Muigai in May and they agreed on what Kenya can provide.
Bensouda wants the records disclosed to prove that Uhuru bankrolled the 2007-08 post-election violence. But ahead of the Wednesday meeting, it has emerged that Bensouda is yet to get the exact details on Uhuru’s accounts but has a general outlook of the President’s property.
The documents received by Bensouda were agreed on with the AG during a meeting at undisclosed location on May 21 and 22. Uhuru’s case is set to start on October 7 but Bensouda has said she has no case without the financial records.
Meanwhile, Bensouda has dismissed the AG’s observations on an appeal by Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang. Bensouda said that Githu does not understand the decision to force some nine witnesses to testify against Ruto and Sang.
But on the other hand, Ruto and Sang supported Githu’s arguments that the government cannot force unwilling witnesses to testify. They also agreed with Githu that the judges had erred in interpreting the law and determining that the Rome Statutes were directly enforceable in Kenya.
– the-star.co.ke
