International Criminal Court adjourns Ruto’s trial to October 2

BY FELIX OLICK at The Hague

The Trial of Deputy President William Ruto has been adjourned until Wednesday next week.

This follows a request by Ruto’s lead lawyer Karim Khan that Ruto be given more time to attend to the security crisis following the Westgate mall attack.

However, Khan was pressing for an adjournment until 14 next month which the prosecution vehemently opposed.

At the same time, the Appeals Chamber has rejected Ruto’s request for reconsideration of the suspensive decision.

This now means that Ruto will have to be physically present in court until the appeal lodged by ICC prosecutor fatou Bensouda challenging his trial in absentia is heard and determined.

The decision by the Appeals chamber dismissing Ruto’s request was rendered unanimously by the five judge bench.

On Friday, Bensouda fired a warning salvo to Deputy President William Ruto that he risks arrest if he skips trial proceedings without permission of the judges.

The warning comes just days after the office of the prosecutor suggested somebody else should be sworn in on a temporary basis to discharge Ruto’s duties as deputy head of state.

"The Prosecution notes Ruto is not here ( ICC) voluntarily, but on compulsion of summons and risks arrest if he defaults," Bensouda warned as she opposed Ruto’s plea to the Appeals Chamber to lift an order compelling him to be in court.

The Chief Prosecutor maintained Ruto is an accused person before the ICC and while presumed innocent, “cannot expect that life would continue normally”.

"The effect of the confirmation of charges is that a trial will ensue in the normal course and the accused, if not in custody, will have to make the necessary arrangements to attend that trial," she charged.