Ongwen Case: ICC Trial Chamber IX to deliver sentence on 6 May 2021- Practical information
On 6 May 2021 at 11:00 (The Hague local time), Trial Chamber IX of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will deliver its decision on the sentence in the case The Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen.
A summary of the decision will be read out in public by Trial Chamber IX composed of Judge Bertram Schmitt (Presiding judge), Judge Péter Kovács and Judge Raul Cano Pangalangan, in the presence of the Mr Ongwen, his defence team, the Legal Representatives of Victims, and the Office of the Prosecutor. Due to COVID-19 restrictions the decision will be delivered on a partially virtual basis.
The Chamber has received submissions by the Prosecutor, the Defence and the legal representatives of the victims on the sentence and held a public hearing on the sentence on 14 and 15 April 2021. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Chamber announced the date of the delivery of its decision on sentence.
The judges may impose a prison sentence of maximum 30 years or, when justified by the extreme gravity of the crime and the individual circumstances of the convicted person, life imprisonment. They may also add a fine or forfeiture of the proceeds, property and assets derived directly or indirectly from the crime committed. The Court cannot impose a death sentence.
Background: The trial in this case began on 6 December 2016. On 4 February 2021, Trial Chamber IX found Dominic Ongwen guilty for a total of 61 comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in Northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005. The verdict may be appealed by either party to the proceedings. The Appeals Chamber extended the time limit for the filing of the notice of appeal by Mr Ongwen to 21 May 2021. Furthermore, a phase dedicated to the reparations to victims will be opened in due course.
For further information on this case, please click here.
Webstreaming of the hearing:
The hearing can be followed live on the ICC website, in English, French and Acholi, in Acholi on the ICC YouTube Channel; and in English and French on the ICC Facebook accounts.
Attending the hearing:
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to the Court's premises is restricted to protect the safety and well-being of users. A limited number of public and media representatives will be granted access to the hearing at the seat of the Court, following measures against coronavirus including wearing a mask and keeping a distance of 1.5 metres.
Members of the diplomatic corps, NGOs and other members of the public can request attendance via email to: [email protected] before 5 May 2021 at 13:00. Attendees must present a valid passport or valid ID with a photo at the main entrance of the Court (at: Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK The Hague).
Journalists wishing to cover the hearing can request accreditation via email to: [email protected] before 5 May 2021 at 13:00. All journalists must present a valid press card, and a valid passport or valid ID with a photo, at the main entrance of the Court (at: Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK The Hague).
Individuals who have not received a confirmation in advance of the hearing will not be granted access to the building. Those attending are advised to arrive 20 minutes in advance before the hearing starts.
AV materials:
Images of the hearing will be available for download in video (MPEG-4) and audio (MPEG-3) format, and for viewing on the official ICC YouTube Channel.
Photographs of the hearing will be available on the ICC Flickr account. For information on audio-visual matters, please contact [email protected]
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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