Media Advisory: 23 February 2017

Bemba et al. case: Sentence to be delivered on 22 March 2017

ICC-CPI-20170223-MA210

On 23 February 2017, Trial Chamber VII of the International Criminal Court (ICC) scheduled the delivery of the decision on sentencing in the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido for 22 March 2017 at 11:00 (The Hague local time).

The decision will be delivered at a public hearing in Courtroom I at the seat of the Court in The Hague (Netherlands). The Chamber ordered the convicted persons to be present at the hearing.

Order Scheduling the Delivery of the Decision on Sentencing

Background: On 19 October 2016, Trial Chamber VII found Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido guilty of various offences against the administration of justice. These offences related to the false testimonies of defence witnesses in another case against Mr Bemba before the ICC.

Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido were on conditional release during their trial by decision of Trial Chamber VII of 17 August 2015. On 19 October 2016, Trial Chamber VII decided that they shall remain on conditional release, pending the imposition of penalties in their case. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo remains in ICC custody in relation to the Main Case, in which he was found guilty and sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment.


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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