News on U.S. government agencies, U.S. politics, companies doing business with U.S. federal government. Read U.S. national and local news. This site is not affiliated with United States Government.
(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 09, 2009 ) The confirmation of charges hearing in the case of The Prosecutor v. Abu Garda is scheduled to start on Monday, 19 October, 2009, at 09:30 until 16:30. According to the provisional agenda the confirmation hearing sessions are expected to last until 30 October, 2009.
The confirmation hearing is held to ensure that no case goes to trial unless there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed the crime with which he has been charged. The suspect has the right to attend the hearing or in his absence be represented by counsel.
On 18 May this year Abu Garda, a member of the Zaghawa tribe of Sudan, appeared for the first time before the Court, in compliance with a summons issued under seal by Pre-Trial Chamber I on 7 May, and unsealed on 17 May.
During his initial appearance before the Court he was informed of his rights under the Rome Statute and the crimes which he is alleged to have committed. He is charged with three war crimes (violence to life, in the form of murder, whether committed or attempted; intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, materials, units, and vehicles involved in a peacekeeping mission; and pillaging) allegedly committed during an attack carried out on 29 September, 2007, against the African Union Mission in Sudan (“AMIS”), a peace-keeping mission stationed at the Haskanita Military Group Site, in the locality of Umm Kadada, North Darfur. It is alleged that the attackers killed twelve and severely wounded eight soldiers, destroyed communication facilities and other materials and appropriated property belonging to AMIS.
This case is the third in the Darfur situation after the cases of The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Muhammad Harun (“Ahmad Harun”) and Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (“Ali Kushayb”), and The Prosecutor v. Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir. The three suspects (Al Bashir, Harun and Kushayb) remain at large.
The Office of the Prosecutor has also submitted an application on 20 November, 2008, for the issuance of warrants of arrest or, alternatively, summonses to appear for two other individuals who allegedly participated in the attack on Haskanita MGS.
Practical information for the media
All media representatives with ICC accreditation wishing to attend are requested to bring a press valid identification card. No previous confirmation of attendance is required.
Audio and visual summaries
The Public Information and Documentation Section will provide video summaries of the proceedings for download in mpeg 4 format with stereo audio:
Channel 1 - floor (original language from the courtroom)
Channel 2 - English
Audio summaries will be available in mpeg 3 format:
Channel 1 - floor (original language from the courtroom)
Channel 2 - English.
Rushes will be available for download on the following dates: 19 October, 20 October, 23 October, 27 October, 29 October and 30 October.
The “News from the Court” programme (ready for broadcast) containing summaries of the proceedings in Arabic will be available on: 23 October, 27 October, 29 October and 30 October.
If you would like to receive information on these downloads (links for download) please send an email to: PublicAffairs.Unit@icc-cpi.int stating your name, organisation, contacts and which product you are interested to receive.
Video-streaming
The courtroom proceedings can also be followed on the ICC website at:
Please note that there will be a 30-minute delay in transmission of the public hearing. All hours noted refer to local time in The Hague.
Media Centre
For media representatives wishing to use the CourtÂ’s media facilities, the media centre will open from 08:30 until one hour after the end of the proceedings, from Monday to Friday.
The area can seat up to 64 people and includes: plasma TV screens; a Wi-Fi internet service; cards (plug + play) for those without Wi-Fi installation in their PC or laptop; 6 computers with internet access; 7 telephones for internal calls only, are free of charge. For external use, journalists are advised to purchase beforehand 0800 pre-paid phone cards available at newsagents and train stations. Please note that phone cards cannot be obtained in the vicinity of, or at the ICC.
Parking facilities
Parking facilities are available for media representatives at the Wegastraat car-park. Journalists attending are kindly invited to use the public entrance located on Regulusweg.
Contacts:
For media centre services: Ms Kerry Pickett Public Information Assistant at +31 (0)70 515 9130 or at Kerry.Pickett@icc-cpi.int
For AV services: Ms Violeta Willemsen-Curcic Video and Audio Producer at +31 (0)70 5158422 or at Violeta.WillemsenCurcic@icc-cpi.int
For interviews: Ms Sonia Robla, Head of Public Information and Documentation Section at +31 (0)70 515-8089 or +31 (0) 646448726 or at Sonia.Robla@icc-cpi.int
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This press release is distributed by EmailWire.Com press Release distribution staff.
For more information on unlimited press release distribution services for $99/month,
go to http://www.emailwire.com/publications/unlimited_press_release_distribution.php
or call 281-645-4086.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The International Criminal Court (ICC)
Ms Kerry Pickett
+31 (0)70 515 9130 Kerry.Pickett@icc-cpi.int
We are pleased to offer you this exciting, new, and entirely free professional resource. Visit our Free Industry resource center today to browse our selection of 600+ complimentary Industry magazines, white papers, webinars, podcasts, and more. Get popular titles including:
