Resources
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Journalists for Justice
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Confronting Impunity
  • Communities of Justice
  • Opinion
  • About US
  • Our Work
No Result
View All Result
Journalists for Justice
  • Home
  • Confronting Impunity
  • Communities of Justice
  • Opinion
  • About US
  • Our Work
No Result
View All Result
Journalists for Justice
No Result
View All Result
Home ICC Cases Africa Cases

Paul Gicheru gives exclusive interview to Kenyan newspaper

Susan Kendi by Susan Kendi
February 7, 2021
in Africa Cases, Headline, ICC Cases, Kenyan Cases, Top Story
5 min read
0
Kenyan Lawyer, Paul Gicheru makes first appearance before the ICC

Kenyan Lawyer, Paul Gicheru makes first appearance before the ICC

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Susan Kendi

Kenyan lawyer Paul Gicheru has for the first time spoken about his surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

RelatedPosts

Khan’s supporters welcome his election, but his critics still wary due to his role in Kenya case

States must take the time to choose the right ICC Prosecutor

First time in history: a vote on who becomes new ICC Prosecutor

In an exclusive interview with Standard Group senior reporter Paul Ogemba, Gicheru said he just wanted to clear his name.

“I did not go to the ICC to fix anyone. It was a personal decision. My conscience could not be at peace forever knowing that there was a warrant from ICC hanging over my head. I wanted to clear this thing to enable me to be at peace.”

The interview in Nairobi, Kenya, came just four days after the ICC released the lawyer into the custody of his government after imposing restrictive conditions on him.

He spoke favourably of the conditions at the court’s detention centre, which is located in a Dutch prison complex in Scheveningen, on the outskirts of The Hague, Netherlands. Gicheru was housed there since his surrender in November last year.

 “I was given my own room… The rooms are good with a television and a personal computer connected to the internet. I could also eat whatever I wanted but could buy food at times if what I wanted was not on the menu,” said Gicheru.

Gicheru did not have unrestricted access to the internet, however, he could just read documents sent to him by his lawyer via the internet. This is because of Covid-19 restrictions and his lawyer could not access him physically.

Gicheru however said he would not comment on his case.

“In line with the Court’s decision and the law on sub judice, I wish to inform everyone that I will not be available for any comments or interviews relating to the matter pending in court or any other matter touching on the court generally,” he added.

The Standard Group is one of the largest media organisations in Kenya.

Pre-trial Chamber A of the ICC imposed 10 conditions in its interim release dated February 1, 2021, one of which states that Gicheru, on his own or through his lawyer, may not speak to journalists, or make any public statements or social media posts on his case.

The release is unusual, especially in the case of Gicheru, who had been a fugitive from justice for five years after the court issued a warrant for his arrest, accusing him of interfering with witnesses in the original case against Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto and radio presenter Joshua Sang. Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou held Gicheru’s voluntary surrender in his favour and took into account the fact that the prosecutor did not oppose his request for interim release.

“In the view of the chamber, Mr. Gicheru’s voluntary surrender demonstrates his concrete willingness to subject himself to the jurisdiction of the court in relation to the allegations against him,” said Judge Alapini-Gansou.

The court also required Gicheru to provide financial security of one million Kenyan shillings [$10,000] to the ICC Registrar in form of cash or bank order. He shall provide copies of his travel and identity documents, and shall notify the court of any international travel he intends to make seven days in advance. He shall surrender himself to the court and appear before it whenever and wherever ordered.

The lawyer shall neither interfere with the investigation nor contact prosecution witnesses or victims in the case except through his lawyer and under strict protocols, which would involve a separate court decision. Additionally, Gicheru is required to report once a week to the Registrar of the ICC, provide the Registrar with his mobile and telephone numbers, which shall remain active with airtime, so that he is reachable at any time. The lawyer shall reside in a specific location in Kenya for the duration of the proceedings.

If Gicheru fails to comply with any of these conditions, the court can revoke his financial security and issue a fresh arrest warrant, either at the request of the ICC Prosecutor or on its own. The ICC has also invited the government of The Netherlands to give its observations on the possibility of Gicheru temporarily residing in the country for the proceedings before February 26, 2021.

Gicheru gave himself up to the Dutch authorities on November 2, 2020, long after the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against him and his co-accused, Philip Kipkoech Bett, in 2015.

During his initial appearance, Gicheru denied that he bribed or attempted to bribe six International Criminal Court (ICC) witnesses eight years ago. He also confirmed to the court that he had surrendered voluntarily, without any coercion, and at his own expense.

Gicheru’s current legal problems stem from one of two cases that the ICC instituted after post-election violence in Kenya in 2007/2008. The case against Ruto and Sang ended in a mistrial in 2016, and the ICC bench vacated the charges.

The ICC accused Gicheru, Bett, and Kenyan journalist Walter Barasa of leading efforts to tamper with witnesses through bribery and corruption.

The prosecution has up to February 12 to file the document containing the charges (DCC) and the list of evidence. The DCC includes the charges listed in the arrest warrant and the details of the prosecution’s evidence. The defence will have up to February 26, 2021, to file its defence and list of evidence. However, Judge Alapini-Gansou said the defence was not obliged to do so.

Both the prosecution and defence should file their submissions by March 5, 2021, and the prosecution will then have up to March 22, 2021, to respond to the defence’s submissions. The defence would have up to March 29, 2021, to reply to the prosecution’s submissions.

Read more on the detention unit: https://jfjustice.net/palace-or-just-an-international-standards-where-and-how-do-the-icc-detainees-live/

Previous Post

123 states in search of new prosecutor

Next Post

States split between Karim Khan and Fergal Gaynor for ICC Prosecutor

Related Posts

The newly elected ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan

Khan’s supporters welcome his election, but his critics still wary due to his role in Kenya case

by Millicent Zighe
February 22, 2021

...

The International Criminal Court (ICC) states parties convene at the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague from December 5-12, 2018, for the 17th session of the Assembly of state parties Credit: The ASP Flickr account

States must take the time to choose the right ICC Prosecutor

by Journalists For Justice
February 11, 2021

...

First time in history: a vote on who becomes new ICC Prosecutor

First time in history: a vote on who becomes new ICC Prosecutor

by Thomas Verfuss
February 10, 2021

...

African NGOs strongly advise for or against Khan as new ICC chief prosecutor

States split between Karim Khan and Fergal Gaynor for ICC Prosecutor

by Millicent Zighe
February 7, 2021

...

123 states in search of new prosecutor

123 states in search of new prosecutor

by Thomas Verfuss
February 5, 2021

...

Carlos Castresana outlines his vision for the ICC

Carlos Castresana outlines his vision for the ICC

by Millicent Zighe
February 5, 2021

...

Next Post
African NGOs strongly advise for or against Khan as new ICC chief prosecutor

States split between Karim Khan and Fergal Gaynor for ICC Prosecutor

Leave a Reply

Please Login to comment
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
  Subscribe  
Notify of

FollowJFJustice

JFJ – Journalists for Justice

We call out impunity and raise victim voices to demand accountability for atrocity crimes wherever they occur.

Follow Us

Archives

Our Microsites

Never Again
INTAHE
BarometreVerite
The Point
No Result
View All Result
  • Confronting Impunity
  • Communities of Justice
  • Opinion
  • About US
  • Our Work

Copyright © 2019. Journalists for Justice has asserted its right to be recognized as creators and owners of the content here. Reproduction in part or in whole is permitted on condition that JFJ is acknowledged and notified.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
wpDiscuz