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ICC and OTP Press Releases: Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo arrested for crimes allegedly committed in the CAR

24 May 2008

Dear all,

Please find below two press releases issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) announcing that on 24 May 2008, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo was arrested by the Belgian authorities for crimes allegedly committed in the Central African Republic (CAR).

The release states that, on 23 May 2008, ICC Pre-Trial Chamber III had issued a sealed warrant of arrest for Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, which was unsealed on 24 May 2008. According to the release, the warrant of arrest contains two counts of crimes against humanity: rape and torture, as well as four counts of war crimes: rape; torture; outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment; and pillaging a town or place.

These documents can be found on the ICC website at: http://www.icc-cpi.int

These documents have been produced by the ICC. The CICC Secretariat distributes them as part of its mandate to keep member organizations and individuals informed about developments related to the ICC. The documents do not reflect the views of the CICC as a whole or its individual members.

Warm Regards,

Oriane Maillet

Communications Officer
Coalition for the International Criminal Court
[email protected]


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I. "Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo arrested for crimes allegedly committed in the Central African Republic", ICC Press Release, 24 May 2008, http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/370.html

Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo arrested for crimes allegedly committed in the Central African Republic

The Hague, 24 May 2008

ICC-CPI-20080524-PR315-ENG

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

Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, alleged national of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), about 45 years old, was arrested today by the Belgian authorities following a warrant of arrest issued under seal by the International Criminal Court.

Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, President and Commander in Chief of the Mouvement de libération du Congo (MLC), is alleged to be criminally responsible for four counts of war crimes and two counts of crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Central African Republic from 25 October 2002 to 15 March 2003.

On 23 May 2008, Pre-Trial Chamber III issued a sealed warrant of arrest for Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo. The warrant remained under seal until today.

Factual allegations

Pre-Trial Chamber III found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that in the context of a protracted armed conflict in the Central African Republic from about 25 October 2002 to 15 March 2003, MLC forces led by Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo carried out a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population during which rape, torture, outrages upon personal dignity and pillaging were committed in, but not limited to, the localities of PK 12, Bossongoa and Mongoumba.

Pre-Trial Chamber III also found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, as President and Commander in Chief of the MLC, was vested with de facto and de jure authority by the members of the MLC to take all political and military decisions.

Counts

According to the warrant of arrest for Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, he is criminally responsible, jointly with another person or through other persons, within the meaning of article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, on:

* two counts of crimes against humanity: rape - article 7(1)(g), torture - article 7(1)(f);
* four counts of war crimes: rape - article 8(2)(e)(vi), torture - article 8 (2(c)(i), outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment - article 8(2)(c)(ii), pillaging a town or place - article 8(2)(e)(v).

Background information

On 21 December 2004, the Central African Republic, which is a State Party to the Rome Statute, referred the situation on its territory to the Prosecutor of the Court.

On 22 May 2007, following a thorough analysis of the information regarding alleged crimes, the Prosecutor announced his decision to initiate an investigation in the Central African Republic.

The warrant of arrest for Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo is the first warrant issued in the situation in the Central African Republic.

Four situations are currently under investigation by the Prosecutor: Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan (Darfur), Central African Republic.

The International Criminal Court is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, namely the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

24.05.2008 - Décision de lever les scellés sur le mandat d'arrêt contre M. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo
ICC-01/05-01/08-5- Original: French
http://www.icc-cpi.int/library/cases/ICC-01-05-01-08-5-FRA.pdf

23.05.2008 - Mandat d'arrêt à l'encontre de Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo- Reclassified as public pursuant to Decision ICC-01/05-001-08-5 dated 24 May 2008
ICC-01/05-01/08-1- Original: French
http://www.icc-cpi.int/library/cases/ICC-01-05-01-08-1-FRA.pdf

ICC-01/05-01/08-1-Anx Original: French
http://www.icc-cpi.int/library/cases/ICC-01-05-01-08-1-Anx-FRA.pdf

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For further information please contact Ms Sonia Robla, Head of Public Information and Documentation Section at +31 (0)70 515-8089 or +31 (0) 646448726 or at [email protected]

II. "ICC Arrest Jean-Pierre Bemba - massive sexual crimes in Central African Republic will not go unpunished", ICC OTP PRESS RELEASE, 24 May 2008, http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/371.html


ICC Arrest Jean-Pierre Bemba - massive sexual crimes in Central African Republic will not go unpunished

The Hague, 24 May 2008

ICC-OTP-20080524-PR316-ENG

Situation : Centrafricain Republic
Affaire : The Prosecutor v/. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo

Jean-Pierre Bemba, charged by the ICC for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Central African Republic, was today arrested in the suburbs of Brussels, Belgium.

Mr. Bemba is chairman of the Mouvement de Libération du Congo (MLC), an armed group which intervened in the 2002-2003 armed conflict in Central African Republic (CAR) and pursued a plan of terrorizing and brutalizing innocent civilians, in particular during a campaign of massive rapes and looting. Mr Bemba had already used the same tactics in the past, in CAR, in the DRC, always leaving a trail of death and destruction behind him.

He is the first person arrested in the context of the ICC investigation in CAR which was opened by Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo in May 2007. Further investigation are proceeding.

"This arrest was a complex and well-prepared operation'' said Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo. "We are grateful to all countries involved, including Belgium which immediately executed the Arrest Warrant in accordance with their obligations under the Rome Statute. I am thankful to all those who assisted in tracing Mr. Bemba, to avoid any possibility of his escaping international justice"

The number of rapes carried out with shocking brutality is a particular feature of this case. "He had done it before in CAR, he had done it before in the DRC. He had to be stopped." said Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo.

The Office of Prosecutor presented evidence against Mr. Jean-Pierre Bemba to the judges of the International Criminal Court on 16 May 2008, charging him with crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The Pre-Trial Chamber issued a warrant of arrest on 23 May 2008. This arrest warrant remained under seal until his arrest on 24 May 2008.

"Mr. Bemba's arrest is a warning to all those who commit, who encourage, or who tolerate sexual crimes. There is a new law called the Rome Statute. Under this new law, they will be prosecuted" said the Prosecutor.

"There are no excuses for hundreds of rapes. There are no excuse for the rape of a little girl, with her parents watching. There are no excuses for commanders ordering, authorizing or acquiescing to the commission of rapes and looting by their forces. We have evidence that Mr Bemba committed crimes.. With the Rome Statute, nobody is beyond the reach of international criminal justice. Nobody can side with the criminals and against the victims.. Bosco Ntaganda, who committed crimes in Ituri and continues to commit crimes today in the Kivus, Joseph Kony of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army, Ahmed Harun, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs for the Sudan, will also end up in jail."

"I went to CAR, I met the victims, those who survived the violence, those who survived AIDS. We cannot erase the scars. But we can give them justice. Their testimonies will be strong evidence for the Prosecution. The victims will tell their stories in Court, this power will be theirs."

"Jean-Pierre Bemba is the fourth person to be arrested by the ICC. On June 5, I will report to the UNSC regarding crimes and destruction of entire communities in Darfur. Our first trial focusing on child soldiers is about to start. We continue to monitor situations around the world where crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC appear to be committed, from Colombia to Afghanistan. International Justice is in motion."

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For more information, please contact:

OTP Media Liaison Nicola Fletcher (French)
[email protected]
+31 (0) 70 515 8071 (office)
+31 (0) 650 890 473 (mobile)

OTP Public Information Coordinator Florence Olara
florence.olara@icc-cpi..int
+31 (0) 70 515 8723 (office)
+31 (0) 6 5029 4476 (mobile

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