Ongwen appeals ICC’s 70 charges

Mr Dominic Ongwen. AFP PHOTO

What you need to know:

Background. Last week, the Pre-Trial Chamber said there were substantial grounds to believe that Ongwen committed war crimes and that he should face full trial.

Kampala. Former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel commander Dominic Ongwen has appealed the recent decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to confirm 70 charges against him before committing him for trial over the atrocities committed in the two-decade war in northern Uganda.
Ms Maria Mabinty Kamara, the ICC outreach officer for Kenya and Uganda, told journalists at the weekend that Mr Ongwen has raised five grounds to support his appeal.
“On March 30, the defense of Dominic Ongwen requested for leave to appeal the decision of confirmation of charges against their client...,” said Ms Kamara.

Mr Ongwen says the Pre-Trial Chamber II erred when it refused to exclude non-translated statements and transcripts. He also faults the judges for failing to consider evidence presented by his defense lawyers regarding his age.
He also accuses the chamber of deciding that article 25 (3)c of the Rome Statute does not require a substantial- contribution to the crime. The former LRA commander says the chamber erred when it decided that forced marriage was not subsumed by the crime of sexual slavery.

Ms Kamara explained that the Pre-Trial Chamber will sit and consider whether Ongwen raises valid appeal grounds before they can give him a go-ahead or not.
On March 23, the Pre-Trial Chamber II composed of Presiding Judge Cuno Tarfusser (Italy), Judge Chang-ho Chung (Republic of Korea) and Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut (France) adopted a separate concurring opinion and confirmed all the 70 charges preferred against Ongwen and also committed him to stand full trial.

ICC prosecutor issues warning on Kony

Meanwhile, ICC Chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda last Friday called on LRA leader Joseph Kony to come out of the bush and face justice. “ I take this opportunity to once again call upon Joseph Kony to hand himself in and face justice. My office will continue to galvanise efforts to arrest him. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Kony is invited to contact my office,” she said.