Africa: Ruto and Sang Case - ICC Trial Chamber V(a) States That Interfering With Witnesses Is an Offence Against the Administration of Justice and May Be Prosecuted

18 September 2013
press release

The Hague, Netherlands — Today, 18 September 2013, Trial Chamber V(a) of the International Criminal Court (ICC), seized with the case The Prosecutor v. William Samoei Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang, issued a special reminder on the importance of witness protection and of possible sanctions for an act or attempted act that is considered an offence against the administration of justice.

Speaking at the beginning of this afternoon's hearing, Presiding Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji stated that "it is an offence against the administration of justice in this Court, pursuant to Article 70 of the Rome Statute, for anyone to do anything intentionally that would amount to corruptly influencing a witness, obstructing or interfering with the attendance or testimony of a witness, or retaliating against a witness for giving testimony in a case before the Court". Article 70 provides that, for such conduct, the Court may impose a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or a fine.

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