Information for victims

Mokom Case

Updated on 13/02/2023

On 14 March 2022, Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka was surrendered to the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed in various locations in the Central African Republic, including Bangui, Bossangoa, Lobaye Préfecture, Yaloké, Gaga, Bossemptélé, Boda, Carnot and Berberati, between at least 5 December 2013 and at least December 2014. Mr Mokom’s surrender follows a warrant of arrest issued under seal on 10 December 2018 by Pre-Trial Chamber II (“Chamber”) with a public redacted version issued on 22 March 2022 (“Warrant of Arrest”).

On 22 March 2022, Mr Mokom came before the Chamber for the initial appearance hearing (this hearing is held in the presence of both the counsel for the person charged and the Prosecutor). After confirming the suspect’s identity and informing him of the charges against him, the Chamber initially scheduled 31 January 2023 as the provisional date for the opening of the confirmation of charges hearing in the case of The Prosecutor v. Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka (“Mokom case”). This date was postponed.

The Victims Participation and Reparations Section (with the initialism “SPVR” in French and “VPRS” in English), which is part of the Registry, is responsible for assisting victims when they are applying for participation in proceedings and requesting reparations in the event that the suspect is charged and subsequently convicted. The Section may also assist the victims and the Chamber in organizing appropriate legal representation for victims during the proceedings.

On 27 June 2022, the Chamber issued an order setting out, among other information, the principles and procedures governing victims’ participation in the Mokom case, and, specifically, approving the use of a joint application form for participation and/or reparations for the Mokom case (see links below to access the form and instructions on how to complete it).

On 3 February 2023, the Chamber scheduled 22 August 2023 as the new date for the opening of the confirmation of charges hearing.

The VPRS continues the process of collecting application forms for victims’ participation and/or reparations.

Victims who have suffered harm as a result of one of the crimes being prosecuted in relation to the Mokom case (see Warrant of Arrest) may apply to participate in the confirmation of charges hearing before the ICC. They may be either individuals or organizations/institutions. 

• Individuals who have suffered direct or indirect harm as a result of one of the crimes being prosecuted in relation to the Mokom case (see Warrant of Arrest) should use the application form for participation for individuals and follow the instructions on how to complete this form (available by clicking on the corresponding links in the box below).
• Organizations or institutions, when their property dedicated to certain purposes (religion, education, art, science or charitable and humanitarian purposes, or historic monuments or hospitals) is directly harmed, should use the application form for participation for organizations and follow the instructions on how to complete this form (available by clicking on the corresponding links in the box below). Only duly authorized representatives of an organization or institution may complete the application form.

When to submit the application form to the ICC: 
The application forms can be submitted to the VPRS at any time. However, please note that the Chamber has ordered the VPRS to send it the applications for participation and/or reparations no later than 30 and 15 days (as the case may be) before the start of the confirmation of charges hearing, the Chamber instructed the Registry to transmit the applications for participation and/or reparations to the Chamber by no later than 28 June 2023.

To ensure that the VPRS receives and processes the applications for participation and/or reparations in good time before this date, we would urge you to submit your form to us as soon as possible, preferably before 12 May 2023. Applications received after this date will be examined, but the applicants may not be able to participate in the proceedings from as soon as the confirmation of charges hearing. If you have any questions about the timings, please get in contact with the VPRS.
 

Before taking any action, interested persons are advised to contact the VPRS at the following address: [email protected] or on the local number: +236 72303402. The VPRS will be able to provide information and advice on victim participation in proceedings before the Court, the current proceedings and the various phases that will follow.

Please note that the application form for participation and/or reparations is NOT meant to serve as a form for providing evidence. The collection of evidence is not a matter for the VPRS but for the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC (“OTP”). The OTP generally receives all relevant information that may be considered as evidence concerning crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.

The safety of victims is fundamental. It is therefore important to take preventive measures such as not mentioning their involvement or interaction with the ICC to others or in public. It is also important to avoid actions that could expose the victims themselves or others to danger (e.g. talking to the media, posting on social media etc., which could reveal their interaction with the ICC).

For further information concerning victims, please click here.