Opening of the confirmation of charges hearing in Al Hassan case: Audio-visual materials and photographs

Today, 8 July 2019, the confirmation of charges hearing in the case The Prosecutor v. Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud opened before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC), composed of Judge Péter Kovács, Presiding Judge, Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut and Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou.

The hearing is scheduled until 17 July 2019. The judges will hear successively the oral submissions of the Prosecutor, the Legal Representatives of the Victims and the Defense.

The confirmation of charges hearing is not a trial. The purpose of the confirmation of charges hearing is for the judges to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed each of the crimes charged. If the charges are confirmed, in full or in part, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber, which will conduct the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial.

In accordance with Regulation 53 of the Regulations of the Court, the Pre-Trial Chamber shall deliver its written decision within 60 days of the date on which the confirmation hearing ends. In addition to the oral submissions to be made during the confirmation hearing, Pre-Trial Chamber I has requested final written submissions from the Prosecution and the Legal Representatives of the Victims by 24 July 2019 and from the Defence by 31 July 2019. The 60-day time frame for delivery of the decision will run upon receipt of the Defence submissions on 31 July 2019.

The Pre-Trial Chamber may then:

• confirm those charges for which the Chamber has determined that there is sufficient evidence, and commit the suspect to trial before a Trial Chamber;

• decline to confirm those charges for which it has determined that there is insufficient evidence and stop the proceedings against Mr Al Hassan;

• adjourn the hearing and request the Prosecutor to provide further evidence, to conduct further investigations or to amend any charge for which the evidence submitted appears to establish t a crime other than the one charged was committed .

The Defence and the Prosecution cannot directly appeal this decision however they can request authorisation from the Pre-Trial Chamber to appeal it.

Background: Mr Al Hassan is suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in 2012 and 2013 in Timbuktu, Mali. The warrant of arrest was issued on 27 March 2018. He was surrendered on 31 March 2018 and made his first appearance before the ICC on 4 April 2018. Mr Al Hassan is in ICC custody.

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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