ICC judges in case against Katanga and Ngudjolo Chui visit Ituri

Situation: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Case: The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui

From 16 to 20 January 2012, the judges of Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) visited Ituri, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Chamber, which is trying the case of The Prosecutor v. Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, travelled to Bogoro, Aveba, Zumbe and Kambusto, visiting the scenes of the alleged crimes in this case and the home villages of the two accused and of a number of witnesses.

The Chamber decided it was necessary to visit these locations, together with the Prosecutor, the Defence and the Legal Representatives of the victims, in order to make its own findings and verify various witness accounts. This judicial site visit by Judges Bruno Cotte (Presiding Judge), Fatoumata Dembele Diarra (ICC Vice-President) and Christine Van Den Wyngaert also provided a further opportunity to show that, though headquartered in The Hague, the Court is keen to increase its visibility amongst local communities.

Logistical support provided by MONUSCO forces and the services of the Registry of the Court ensured that the visit ran smoothly and was respectful of the communities involved. The Outreach Unit had met with community chiefs and elders prior to the visit in order to explain its judicial nature and context.

Photos from the visit are available 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].

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