By Samantha Netzband
Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo– Ex-Congolese Vice President Bemba was convicted of witness tampering at the International Criminal Court. Bemba and four members of his legal team were convicted on October 19th, just months after Bemba’s conviction for leading a campaign of rape and murder across the Central African Republic. This was a ground breaking conviction for the International Criminal Court which has struggled with witness tampering since its inception.
Bemba at the International Criminal Court in March. (Photo Courtesy of The New York Times)
The Court’s conviction is based off of evidence that Bemba and his attorneys used a coded exchange in order to ensure testimony that was in Bemba’s favor. Evidence shows that 14 witnesses were tampered with. These witnesses testified in Bemba’s crimes against humanities case at the International Criminal Court. Bemba was sentenced to 18 years in prison of the rape and murder of hundreds in the Central African Republic.
“No legal system in the world can accept the bribing of witnesses, the inducement of witnesses to lie or the illicit coaching of witnesses. Nor can the International Criminal Court,” Presiding Judge Bertram Schmitt said after the convictions were made. This conviction strengthens the power of the International Criminal Court, showing that it takes witness tampering seriously. Bemba and his attorneys could face up to five years in prison because of their convictions.
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