ICC Sets Congo Warlord’s Trial For
April
Judges
at the International Criminal Court, ICC say the trial of former Congolese rebel
warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba on charges of murder, rape and pillage in the Central
African Republic, will start next April.
Bemba, the defeated contender in Democratic Republic of Congo's 2006
presidential election, was accused by the ICC of leading Congolese rebels who
waged a campaign, of rape and torture between the Year 2002 and 2003.
Announcing his trial date of April 27th, 2010, the ICC said in a statement that
Bemba had been charged on five counts, involving two crimes against humanity;
murder and rape and three war crimes.
Bemba was arrested by Belgian authorities in May 2008 and was transferred to the
ICC in July of that year.
He is currently detained at a centre in The Hague.
REUTERS/Yinka
