Press Release: 5 November 2009

Trial of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo to commence Tuesday, 27 April, 2010

ICC-CPI-20091105-PR472

Situation: The Central African Republic
Case: The Prosecutor v. Jean Pierre Bemba Gombo

In a decision issued today, Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court (ICC) set the date for the commencement of the trial in the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo as Tuesday, 27 April, 2010.

Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo is allegedly criminally responsible, as a person effectively acting as military commander within the meaning of article 28(a) of the Rome Statute, for two crimes against humanity (murder and rape) and three war crimes (murder, rape and pillaging), allegedly committed on the territory of the Central African Republic from on or about 26 October, 2002 to 15 March, 2003.

After his arrest by the Belgian authorities, in execution of a warrant of arrest delivered by the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC, he was transferred and surrendered to the Court on 3 July, 2008. He is currently detained at the detention centre of the ICC at Scheveningen, in The Hague.

05.11.2009 - Decision on the Date of Trial

For further information please contact Ms Sonia Robla, Head of Public Information and Documentation Section at +31 (0)70 515 8089 or +31 (0) 6 46 44 87 26 or at [email protected]