Press Release: 21 December 2012

ICC released Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui from custody following his acquittal

ICC-CPI-20121221-PR868

Situation: The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Case: The Prosecutor v. Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui

Today, 21 December 2012, Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui was released from custody following his acquittal by Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Prosecutor has however appealed the verdict.

Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui will remain temporarily in The Netherlands until the travel ban imposed by the United Nations is lifted to allow him to return to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The release of Mr Ngudjolo Chui is being made taking into account his opinion, according to ICC legal texts. Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui has expressed interest in returning to the DRC if the security situation allows.

During ICC proceedings, Mr Ngudjolo Chui was detained at the ICC Detention Centre located within a Dutch prison complex in Scheveningen - on the outskirts of The Hague (Netherlands).

Background: The trial against Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui started on 24 November 2009. On 18 December 2012, Trial Chamber II acquitted Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui of three counts of crimes against humanity and seven counts of war crimes allegedly committed during an attack against the Bogoro village (DRC) on 24 February 2003. Judges found that the Prosecution had not proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui was responsible for the crimes committed during the attack. The Office of the Prosecutor has appealed the verdict. The Chamber also ordered the immediate release of Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui following his acquittal. On 20 December 2012, the Appeals Chamber rejected the Office of the Prosecutor’s request to keep Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui in custody until the Chamber decides on its appeal of the immediate release decision.

ICC press releases:

ICC Appeals Chamber: Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui will not remain in detention during the appeals phase

ICC Trial Chamber II acquits Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui

Trial Chamber II dismisses request for Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui to remain in custody

For further information, please contact Sonia Robla, Chief of Public Information Section, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-8089 or 31 (0)6 46448726 or by e-mail at: [email protected].

You can also follow the Court’s activities on YouTube and Twitter.