Metro Manila, Philippines – The International Criminal Court will deliver its verdict on Sept. 23 in the trial of Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, a former alleged Seleka commander accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Central African Republic.
It said Trial Chamber VI will announce whether Said is convicted or acquitted during a public hearing at the ICC.
Said faces charges pf crimes against humanity, including imprisonment or other severe deprivation of liberty, torture, persecution and other inhumane acts.
He also faces war crimes charges of torture, cruel treatment and outrages upon personal dignity.
The alleged crimes were committed against people detained at the Office Central de Répression du Banditisme, or Central Office for the Repression of Banditry, in the capital Bangui in 2013.
The ICC found sufficient grounds during pre-trial proceedings to believe Said was a senior member of the Seleka coalition and was criminally responsible for alleged crimes committed against detainees perceived as supporters of former Central African Republic President François Bozizé between April and August 2013.
The Seleka, a predominantly Muslim rebel coalition, seized Bangui and overthrew Bozizé in March 2013, plunging the country into a wider conflict marked by violence between armed groups.
Said was surrendered to the ICC by Central African Republic authorities in January 2021 after the court issued a warrant for his arrest under seal in 2019.
Over the course of 130 trial hearings, the chamber heard 58 prosecution witnesses and three defense witnesses. Thirty-two victims were granted the right to participate in the proceedings, according to the ICC.
Under the Rome Statute, Said is presumed innocent and may only be convicted if the judges find that the prosecution proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
The judgment will be delivered by Trial Chamber VI, led by Presiding Judge Miatta Maria Samba with Judges María del Socorro Flores Liera and Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godínez. Judge Keebong Paek serves as alternate judge.
This is a news release from the International Criminal Court
