ICC postpones Dominic Ongwen’s confirmation of charges hearing to January 2016

Dominic Ongwen is facing seven charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes at the International Criminal Court. (Photo:Courtesy/ICC)

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has postponed the commencement of the confirmation of charges hearing in the case against Lord’s Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen.

The hearing, initially set to begin on August 24, has been pushed to January 21, 2016 following the request of the prosecutor.

Pre-Trial Chamber II said the postponement is meant to “to allow the Prosecutor to prepare adequately for the hearing and to comply with the Chamber’s instructions.”

“The Prosecutor sought more time for several reasons, including her intention to re-investigate and contact witnesses who had been interviewed a decade ago, and to investigate further with a view to enlarging possibly the factual scope of this case,” read a statement from ICC.

The Chamber considered several factors, such as the need to (re-)investigate, disclose evidence to the Defence relevant to this case, seek protective measures, prepare an in-depth analysis chart, and ensure the translation of core pieces of evidence into Acholi, the language the suspect fully understands and speaks.

It also took other factors into account, such as the fact that the Court will be moving to its new premises between 30 November and 11 December 2015.

Ongwen, a former child soldier who rose through the ranks of the rebel group that abducted him in 1988, made his first appearance before pre-trial judge Ekaterina Trendafilova on January 26 where he was informed of the charges facing him.

Ongwen is suspected of three counts of crimes against humanity and four counts of war crimes allegedly committed on or about 20 May 2004 at the Lukodi IDP Camp in the Gulu District, Northern Uganda.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda toured Uganda in February 27 to meet witnesses in the case against Ongwen, who was captured in January and handed over to the ICC.

During her visit, Bensouda urged LRA’s chief Joseph Kony to surrender and assured him he would be accorded fair trial. She promised that justice will ultimately be dispensed for LRA crimes.