ICC Pre-Trial Chamber rejects significant portion of the charges against Mr. Arido

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On 11 November 2014, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed some of the charges against Mr. Bemba, Mr. Kilolo, Mr. Mangenda, Mr. Babala and Mr. Arido. They were accused by the ICC Prosecutor to have committed ‘offences against the administration of justice’ in the main case against Mr. Bemba (art. 70 ICC Statute).

Göran Sluiter is representing Mr. Arido. He considers the Decision a step in the right direction: ‘The Pre-Trial Chamber rejected the charges against my client related to falsification of documents and the charge of co-perpetration, namely that Mr. Arido allegedly participated in a common plan to defend Mr. Bemba in the main case by resorting to the commission of offences against the administration of justice. The Pre-Trial Chamber also referred to the alleged involvement of Mr. Arido as ‘more limited’. Yet, we are disappointed the charges of having corruptly influenced four witnesses are confirmed. There is insufficient evidence to support this.’

Subject to appeals being submitted against the Pre-Trial Chamber’s Decision and the outcome of these proceedings, the case against Mr. Arido will be committed to trial.

The Pre-Trial Chamber’s Decision can be found here.

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Prakken d'Oliveira, formerly known as Böhler, is a law firm with expertise and experience in asylum and immigration law, European law, administrative law, international criminal law and human rights. Our lawyers provide advice and conduct procedures before the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND), the Dutch Review Committee on the Intelligence and Security Services (CTIVD), the District- and Appeals courts, the Administrative Law Division of the Dutch Council of State, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ), the Human Rights Treaty Bodies of the United Nations (UN), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and other international tribunals.