Bahr Idriss Abu Garda arrives at the premises of the Court

ICC-CPI-20090517-PR413 عربي

Situation in Darfur, Sudan
Case: The Prosecutor v. Bahr Idriss Abu Garda


Bahr Idriss Abu Garda (“Abu Garda”), who is suspected of having committed war crimes in Darfur, Sudan, voluntarily arrived in The Netherlands this afternoon by commercial aircraft. On his arrival, he was notified by Court officials of the summons to appear before Pre-Trial Chamber I tomorrow at 3 p.m. Following a meeting with his legal counsel, at 6 p.m., he was taken to a location assigned by the Court for his stay in The Netherlands.

The location, which remains confidential, is considered an extension of the Court’s premises. Abu Garda has been ordered not to leave the premises of the Court during his stay in The Netherlands without specific permission of the Chamber.

The Registrar of the Court, Ms Silvana Arbia, welcomed his arrival: “The voluntary appearance of Abu Garda might serve to encourage other suspects currently at large to come before the Court to be heard with all guarantees of a fair trial”.

For the first time, the ICC judges issued a summons to appear instead of an arrest warrant. The Judges of Pre-Trial Chamber I were satisfied that Abu Garda will appear before the Court without the need to arrest him.

This complex operation would not have been possible without the cooperation of several States. “I am very grateful to the authorities of The Netherlands and other countries which have made this operation possible. Within the spirit of the Rome Statute, they have been continuously supportive of the work of the Court,” Ms Arbia said.

Abu Garda, a member of the Zaghawa tribe of Sudan, is charged with three counts of war crimes allegedly committed during an attack carried out on 29 September 2007 against the African Union Mission in Sudan, a peace-keeping mission stationed at the Military Group Site Haskanita, Umm Kadada locality, North Darfur. During the attack, twelve AMIS soldiers were allegedly killed and eight others severely wounded.

“Today our thoughts are with peacekeepers and other workers of humanitarian organisations who provide essential security and help to support millions of people in countries facing armed conflicts,” said the Registrar.

At Abu Garda’s first appearance, Judge Cuno Tarfusser (Italy), acting as Single Judge, will inform him of the crimes which he is alleged to have committed and of his rights under the Rome Statute. After the hearing, Abu Garda will be free to leave The Netherlands. He will be required to return to The Netherlands to attend a confirmation of charges hearing before trial which will be held within a reasonable time to determine whether or not there are substantial grounds to believe that he committed the crimes charged.

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For further information please contact Ms Sonia Robla, Head of Public Information and Documentation Section at +31 (0)70 515 8089 or +31 (0) 6 46 44 87 26 or at sonia.robla@icc-cpi.int