ICC separates Ongwen’s case from Kony’s
Dominic Ongwen, a former Lord’s Resistance Army commander during his maiden appearance before the International Criminal Court on January 26. Photo AFP
The International Criminal Court has separated Dominic Ongwen’s case from the main one that involved his former boss Joseph Kony among other Lord Resistance Army war lords.
According to a statement from the ICC, this move is intended to fast track the Ongwen’s pre-trial case.
It has been separated from the main case of the Prosecutor Vs Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen.
The ICC reasons that it is now ten years since it issued an arrest warrant against the other three LRA suspects who have never been apprehended.
The Hague based court said this decision will not in any way affect the rights of the LRA victims.
Ongwen faces three counts of crimes against humanity and four counts of war crimes allegedly committed on or about May 20, 2004 at the Lukodi IDP Camp in the Gulu District.
His maiden ICC appearance was on January 26 when the charges he is facing were read to him.
This was a preliminary step to decide whether the case will be referred to a trial or not.
Mr Ongwen will next reappear in court on August 24 for the confirmation of charges.
