Abd–Al-Rahman case: Confirmation of charges hearing postponed to 24 May 2021
Today, 18 December 2020, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided to postpone the commencement of the confirmation hearing in the case of The Prosecutor v. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman to Monday, 24 May 2021. The hearing had been scheduled to commence on 22 February 2021.
Having considered the Prosecutor's Second Request to Postpone the Confirmation Hearing and related deadlines, and the Prosecutor's two requests pursuant to regulation 35 of the Regulations for the variation of disclosure related time limits, as well as the parties' submissions on the matter and having balanced the rights of the suspect and the need to ensure the protection of witnesses, the Chamber partially granted the postponement request and set the date of the confirmation hearing to commence on 24 May 2021. The Chamber also set a number of new procedural deadlines for the disclosure of evidence by the Prosecutor and the Document Containing the Charges.
The purpose of the confirmation of charges hearing is 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, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber, which will conduct the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial.
Background: The first warrant of arrest delivered on 27 April 2007 and the second warrant published on 11 June 2020 against Mr Abd–Al-Rahman list 53 counts on the basis of his individual criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur (Sudan). Mr Abd-Al-Rahman was transferred to the ICC's custody on 9 June 2020, after surrendering himself voluntarily in the Central African Republic. His initial appearance before the ICC took place on 15 June 2020.
For further information on this case, check
here
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]
You can also follow the Court's activities on Twitter,
Facebook,
Tumblr,
YouTube and
Flickr