Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto (R) reacts as he sits in the courtroom before his trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague September 10, 2013. Ruto appeared at the International Criminal Court on Tuesday for the opening of his trial on charges of co-orchestrating a post-election bloodbath five years ago. Ruto and his co-accused, the broadcaster Joshua arap Sang, could face long prison terms if convicted.To the left is defense counsel Karim Khan. REUTERS/Michael Kooren (NETHERLANDS – Tags: CRIME LAW POLITICS ELECTIONS CIVIL UNREST) – RTX13FKD
Lawyer Paul Gicheru, who was part of DP Ruto’s legal team at the ICC has handed himself to the court after a warrant of arrest was issued by the Hague-based bench, accusing the lawyer of coaching witnesses to ensure William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta were off the hook and their cases terminated. Paul Gicheru and Philip Kipkoech Bett also a lawyer, were issued with arrest warrants in March 2015. Lawyer Gicheru was based in the Netherlands by the time he handed over himself to the Hague.
“Today, 2 November 2020, Mr Paul Gicheru surrendered to the authorities of The Netherlands pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court,” reads the statement from ICC.
The Court, through the Registry services, submitted a cooperation request to the Dutch authorities for the arrest and surrender of Mr Gicheru to the Court upon completion of the necessary national arrest proceedings,” it adds.
There has been word of the ICC reviving the case against DP William Ruto. There are allegations that there existed, from at least April 2013, a criminal scheme designed to systematically approach and corruptly influence witnesses of the Prosecutor through bribery and other methods of inducements in exchange for their withdrawal as prosecution witnesses and/or recantation of their prior statements to the Prosecutor.
