ICC rejects appeal against release of Congolese

Europe December 20, 2012

ICC rejects appeal against release of Congolese

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Judges at the International Criminal Court have rejected an appeal by prosecutors against the release of a Congolese man acquitted this week of leading rebel fighters responsible for massacring some 200 villagers in eastern Congo.

Mathieu Ngudjolo was cleared Tuesday of charges including murder, rape and pillage at the end of his trial. He is the first suspect acquitted by ICC judges. Prosecutors have appealed the acquittals and sought to have Ngudjolo kept in custody, arguing that if he is released he may never return to court.

The court said in a statement Thursday that arrangements are now being made to release Ngudjolo to a country that agrees to accept him.

Subjects
Locations
Organisations
- International Criminal Court

Related Headlines

UN court acquits Congo rebel leader of war crimes
The International Criminal Court acquitted a Congolese militia leader Tuesday of all charges of commanding fighters who destroyed a village in eastern Congo in 2003, raping ...
Rwandan warlord pleads not guilty of Congo crimes
A Rwandan-born warlord known as "The Terminator" insisted Tuesday he is innocent of charges including murder, rape, pillaging and using child soldiers in eastern Congo at his ...
AP PHOTOS: M23 rebels battle Congolese soldiers
M23, the eight-month-old rebel group made up of soldiers who defected from the Congolese army, has pushed beyond Goma, the bustling regional capital of eastern Congo, which ...
AP PHOTOS: New scenes from Congo
M23, the eight-month-old rebel group made up of soldiers who defected from the Congolese army, has pushed beyond Goma, the bustling regional capital of eastern Congo, which ...