Press Release: 26 February 2021

Gicheru case: New calendar of filings for the confirmation of charges proceedings

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Today, 26 February 2021, Pre-Trial Chamber A (Article 70) of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court"), composed of Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou, established a new calendar for the filing of the written submissions in relation to the confirmation of charges proceedings in the case against Mr Paul Gicheru.

Mr Gicheru is suspected of offences against the administration of justice by corruptly influencing witnesses of the Court. He has been granted interim release with conditions and arrived in Kenya on 1 February 2021. The confirmation of charges proceedings in this case is conducted in writing.

In today's decision, the Pre-Trial Chamber considered both the Defence's and the Prosecutor's requests for extension and noted that both parties agreed on the necessity of postponing the date of the filing of the Written Submissions and other related deadlines. Recalling its duty to ensure the expeditiousness of the proceedings, the Chamber decided that the Prosecutor shall file the Document Containing the Charges and list of evidence no later than 12 March 2021 and that the Defence shall file its list of evidence no later than 8 April 2021. Both parties will have to file their written submissions, replacing the confirmation of charges hearing in this case, on 23 April 2021 at the latest. Subsequently, the Prosecutor and the Defence may respond to the written submissions respectively on 30 April 2021 and on 7 May 2021, at the latest.

Decision on the postponement of the date of filing of written submissions and other related deadlines for the confirmation of charges proceedings

Background

The arrest warrant against Mr Gicheru and Philip Kipkoech Bett was issued under seal on 10 March 2015 and unsealed on 10 September 2015 for offences against the administration of justice consisting in corruptly influencing witnesses of the Court. On 2 November 2020, Paul Gicheru surrendered in The Netherlands and was surrendered to ICC custody on 3 November 2020. His first appearance before the ICC took place on 6 November 2020. On 11 December 2020, Pre-Trial Chamber A severed the cases against Paul Gicheru and Philip Kipkoech Bett.


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