ICC prosecutor argues against release of Congo rebel leader Bemba

08/26/09: Jurist reports that chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno-Ocampo on Monday filed arguments against releasing former Democratic Republic of Congo rebel leader Jean Pierre Bemba. The ICC ordered Bemba's conditional release earlier this month, a decision which Moreno-Ocampo immediately appealed.

08/15/09: Jurist reports that the International Criminal Court on Friday ordered the conditional release of former Democratic Republic of Congo rebel leader Jean Pierre Bemba, a decision which Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo announced he would appeal. The court found no evidence to suggest that Bemba would pose a danger, interfere with court proceedings, or fail to appear for trial.

06/29/09: CNN reports that former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba is Monday due to appear before the International Criminal Court, where he faces war crimes charges of rape, torture and pillaging during civil war in the African republic. Bemba, who was arrested near Brussels in May, is accused by the ICC of commanding a rebel group that carried out a widespread attack against civilians between October 2002 and March 2003.

06/16/09: Reuters reports that the International Criminal Court on Monday ordered former Congolese rebel warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba to stand trial on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, rape and pillaging.

01/13/09: Jurist reports that the International Criminal Court began a confirmation of charges hearing against former Democratic Republic of Congo vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba. Bemba, originally arrested in May 2008 by Belgian authorities, faces charges for war crimes and crimes against humanity for violations allegedly committed in the Central African Republic between October 2002 and March 2003. ICC prosecutors said Bemba is responsible for ordering troops to use rape and torture to intimidate CAR civilians against supporting rebel forces in the country. Lawyers for Bemba argued that the forces that allegedly committed the crimes were acting under the authority of the CAR government, and that the charges against Bemba were politically motivated.