ICC issues warrant of arrest against Barasa for tampering with witnesses

By Standard Digital Reporter

NAIROBI, KENYA:

International Criminal Court has issued warrant of arrest against Kenyan Walter Barasa for attempting to corruptly influence ICC witnesses.

Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) unsealed an arrest warrant against Walter Osapiri Barasa, Kenyan citizen, born in 1972.

He is charged with several offences against the administration of justice including corruptly influencing or attempting to corruptly influence ICC witnesses.

An under seal warrant of arrest was issued against him on 2 August 2013. This is the first case before the ICC where a suspect is charged with an offence against the administration of justice, in accordance with article 70 of the Rome Statute.

Judge Cuno Tarfusser, Single Judge of Pre-Trial Chamber II, considered that the evidence presented by the Prosecutor established reasonable grounds to believe that Walter Barasa is criminally responsible as direct perpetrator for the crime of corruptly influencing or, alternatively, attempting to corruptly influence witnesses by offering to pay them to withdraw as ICC Prosecution witnesses in the context of the Kenyan cases before the ICC.

Allegedly, he has been and is still acting in furtherance of a criminal scheme devised by a circle of officials within the Kenyan administration.

Based on the Prosecutor’s evidence, Judge Tarfusser also found that it is necessary to arrest Walter Osapiri Barasa to ensure his appearance at trial, to ensure that he does not obstruct or endanger the investigation or the proceedings, and to prevent him from continuing with the commission of the crime.

The International Criminal Court is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, namely the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

Yesterday, the Court made public an arrest warrant for Ivorian ex-minister Charles Ble Goude over war crimes allegations.

He is wanted by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity during violence which erupted following disputed elections in Ivory Coast in 2010.

Some 3,000 people lost their lives in the crisis after ex-President Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat.

Mr Ble Goude has denied leading pro-Gbagbo militias in violent attacks.

The arrest warrant, issued in December 2011 but only now made public, describes Mr Ble Goude as a member of Mr Gbagbo's "inner circle".

The ICC said the 40-year-old, currently detained in Ivory Coast, is suspected of murder, rape, persecution and other inhuman acts committed between December 2010 and April 2011.