The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected an
application by Eldoret North MP William Ruto to be
exempted from attending the whole proceedings for the
confirmation of charges. Mr Ruto, who wanted to return
home to attend to an “important personal matter” would
now have to stay at The Hague for 12 days.
ICC spokesman Faadi El-Abdalla said the Pre-Trial
Chamber under Lady Justice Ekaterina Trendafilova made
the decision. Ruto left on Tuesday for the hearing.
“Only Ruto had made the application. The other two have
not filed anything,” he told The Standard.
Ruto wanted the court to waive his right to be present at
the whole hearing. The MP’s lawyers will Thursday from
3.30pm Kenyan time begin making submissions at the
confirmation of charges hearing.
The lawyers are expected to first give their observations on
admissibility, jurisdiction, and procedural matters before
the ICC Prosecutor Louis Moreno-Ocampo presents his
evidence.
They have been preparing for the last five months to
challenge Moreno-Ocampo’s evidence against their client
to free them from allegations of crimes against humanity.
It is on this third day that Moreno-Ocampo is expected to
tell the court how Ruto, Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, and
radio presenter Joshua arap Sang are liable for the
alleged crimes committed in Rift Valley.
The suspects’ evidence will start coming on September 3
at 7.30pm, when Ruto’s first witness takes the stand.
Kenyans will have a chance to hear the witness’s
evidence. The witness along with others are expected to
use pseudonyms or codes for security purposes.
ICC spokesman said the court session would be open
unless ordered otherwise.
“The proceedings can be followed with a 30 minute
delay,” he said. The 30 minutes delay is to enable the
court to edit confidential information such as a witness’s
identity.
From September 6, hearing on confirmation of charges
against Kosgey will kick off, as Sang’s team prepares to
take the stand from September 9 to 10. Moreno-Ocampo
will question the defence witnesses.