Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Narcisse Arido and Fidèle Babala Wandu released from ICC custody

Situation: Central African Republic
Case: The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido

Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Narcisse Arido and Fidèle Babala Wandu were released from the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) following a decision by Pre-Trial Chamber II granting them interim release. The suspects shall appear before the Court when requested by the Judges.

Aimé Kilolo Musamba was released in Belgium, Fidèle Babala Wandu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Narcisse Arido in France. The release of Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, the fourth suspect who was granted interim release in this case, will be implemented as soon as the ICC Registry finalises all the necessary arrangements. 

 Background: On 21 October 2014, Judge Cuno Tarfusser, Single Judge of Pre-Trial Chamber II reviewed motu proprio the detention of the suspects in the case The Prosecutor v. Bemba, Kilolo et al. and ordered the release of Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido.

Jean-Pierre Bemba, the fifth suspect in this case, will remain in detention in connection with ongoing proceedings in another case before the Court, The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo.

On 22 October 2014, the Appeals Chamber rejected the Prosecution's request for suspensive effect of its appeal of Pre-Trial Chamber II's decision ordering the release of the four suspects. 

Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, his former lead Counsel Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo (a former member of Mr Bemba's Defence team and case manager), Fidèle Babala Wandu (a member of the DRC Parliament and Deputy Secretary General of the Mouvement pour la Libération du Congo), and Narcisse Arido (a Defence witness) are suspected of offences against the administration of justice allegedly committed in connection with the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo.

For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected].

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