Yekatom and Ngaïssona case: Trial to open on 9 February 2021

On 16 July 2020, Trial Chamber V of the International Criminal Court (ICC) scheduled the opening of the trial in the case of The Prosecutor v. The Prosecutor v. Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona for 9 February 2021.

This date was set by the Chamber after considering the respective submissions by the parties and participants, the rights of the accused, the necessary time for the disclosure of evidence and the protection of victims and witnesses, as well as the special circumstances under the Coronavirus Pandemic. Victims can apply to participate in the proceedings until the end of the Prosecution's presentation of evidence.

Trial Chamber V is composed of Judge Bertram Schmitt, Presiding Judge, Judge Péter Kovács and Judge Chang-ho Chung.

Decision Setting the Commencement Date of the Trial

Background: The arrest warrant for Alfred Yekatom was issued on 11 November 2018 and unsealed on 17 November 2018. He was surrendered to the ICC on 17 November 2018 and his initial appearance took place on 23 November 2018. The arrest warrant for Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona was issued on 7 December 2018. He was arrested by the authorities of the French Republic on 12 December 2018 and transferred to the ICC detention centre on 23 January 2019, upon completion of necessary national proceedings. His initial appearance took place on 25 January 2019. On 20 February 2019, Pre-Trial Chamber II joined the Yekatom and Ngaïssona cases.

The confirmation of charges hearing was held on 19-25 September and 11 October 2019. On 11 December 2019, Pre-Trial Chamber II partially confirmed the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity brought by the Prosecutor against Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona and committed them to trial. The public redacted version of the decision on the confirmation of charges was published on 20 December 2019.

Mr Yekatom and Mr Ngaïssona are in the Court's custody.

For more information on this case, click here

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