Dominic Ongwen arrived under escort at The Hague last night where he will face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Court issued an arrest warrant against him for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed as a commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (statement of the ICC). Under the command of Joseph Kony, the LRA including Ongwen, was involved in killing and displacing thousands of people in Northern Uganda. Their crimes included terrorising civilians, recruiting child soldiers and using children as sex slaves.
Ongwen surrendered and has now been transferred to the custody of the ICC. In The Hague, he will reside behind the famous walls of the prison in Scheveningen together with six fellow detainees who are currently on trial at the court. Although their criminal records are very different, they now share one thing: they all ended up in Scheveningen. Who are those people? How long have they been in ICC custody and why?
Status?
Found guilty 3/14/12, sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment.
Situation?
Tried for his role in the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
When was warrant issued?
Warrant issued 2/10/06
When was he captured/surrendered?
Captured 3/16/06
What crimes is he accused/senctenced for?
Accused of the war crime of enlisting and conscripting children under 15 and using them to participate actively in hostilities in the context of an armed conflict not of an international character
Status?
Found guilty 5/23/14, sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment.
Situation?
Tried for his role in the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
When was warrant issued?
Warrant issued 2/7/2007
When was he captured/surrendered?
Captured by Congolese authorities in March 2005, turned over to ICC 10/17/07
What crimes is he accused/senctenced for?
Accused of the war crimes and accused of the crimes against humanity. Found guilty on 3/7/14 of one count of crime against humanity (murder) and four counts of war crimes (murder, attacking a civilian population, destruction of property and pillaging)
Status?
Oral arguments finished 13/11/2014. Judges are currently deliberating.
Situation?
On trial for his role in the situation in Central African Republic
When was warrant issued?
Warrant issued 5/23/08
When was he captured/surrendered?
Captured 5/24/08
What crimes is he accused/senctenced for?
Accused of two counts of crimes against humanity (murder and rape) and three counts of war crimes (murder, rape and pillaging)
Laurent Gbagbo
Status?
Trial scheduled to begin in 2015
Situation?
On trial for his role in the situation in Cote d’Ivoire
When was warrant issued?
Warrant issued 23/11/2011
When was he captured/surrendered?
Captured in April 2011, transferred to ICC custody from 31/12/2011
What crimes is he accused/sentenced for?
Accused of 4 crimes against humanity (murder, rape, other inhumane acts/attempted murder, persecution)
Status?
Trial scheduled to begin in 2015
Situation?
On trial for his role in the situation in Democratic Republic of Congo
When was warrant issued?
Warrant issued 22/8/2006
When was he captured/surrendered?
Surrendered 22/3/2014
What crimes is he accused/sentenced for?
Accused of 13 war crimes (murder and attempted murder, attacking civilians, rape, sexual slavery of civilians, pillaging, displacement of civilians, attacking protected objects, destroying the enemy’s property, and rape, sexual slavery, enlistment and conscription of child soldiers under the age of 15 and using them to participate actively in hostilities) and 5 crimes against humanity (murder and attempted murder, rape, sexual slavery, persecution, forcible transfer of population)
Charles Blé Goude
Status?
The charges were confirmed 11/12/2014 and the case has been referred to Trial Chamber 1.
Situation?
On trial for his role in the situation in Cote d’Ivoire
When was warrant issued?
Warrant issued 21/12/2011
When was he captured/surrendered?
Captured 17/1/2013, turned over to ICC 22/3/2014
What crimes is he accused/sentenced for?
Accused of 4 crimes against humanity (murder, attempted murder, rape, persecution)
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