Joshua Sang asks ICC to be excused to attend daughter’s graduation

BY FELIX OLICK

Radio journalist Joshua Arap Sang also wants to be excused from continuous attendance in court so that he can attend a graduation ceremony for his daughter.

His lawyer Katwa Kigen on Wednesday asked the judges to allow Sang to return to Kenya so that he can attend the graduation ceremony scheduled for November 1.

Basing his argument on the ruling by the Appeals Chamber last Friday, Katwa said an accused can be allowed to skip trials ‘under exceptional circumstances’

Kigen argued that Sang’s daughter is only six years old and would be traumatised if her father was not at her ‘big day’.

“He had reassured the girl that he would be able to attend the graduation and the girl may not have comprehension of the ICC process,” argued Katwa yesterday.

Lead Prosecution Counsel Anton Steynberg said he sympathised with Sang but opposed the request.

According to Steynberg, the Appeals Chamber’s ruling does not allow for permission to attend to family issues.

“I regret to say that we must oppose,” he noted during the submission.